Sufficient

Definition

Sufficient refers to having or providing as much as is needed; enough in terms of quantity or quality.

Parts of Speech

Adjective

Pronunciation

American English

IPA: /səˈfɪʃəntli/
Respelling: suh-FISH-uhnt-lee

British English

IPA: /səˈfɪʃəntli/
Respelling: suh-FISH-uhnt-lee

The addition of "-ly" does not significantly alter the pronunciation of the base word, but it adds a final syllable. The primary stress remains on the second syllable, as in "sufficient." The final "ly" is pronounced as "lee." The representations are consistent across both American and British English, though, as always, slight variations may occur due to regional accents.

Etymology

The term "sufficient" derives from Old French sufisant or suffisant, from Latin sufficientem or sufficiens, the present participle of sufficere which means "to supply, suffice." The Latin word sufficere is further broken down into sub- (up to) and facere (to make, to do).

Derivatives

Suffice
Sufficiency
Sufficiently
Insufficient
Insufficiency

Synonyms

Adequate
Enough
Ample

Antonyms

Insufficient
Inadequate
Lacking

Usage

The term "sufficient" is commonly used to describe situations where there is an adequate amount or degree of something to meet a particular need or requirement. It is often used in legal, financial, or formal contexts to signify adequacy in terms of resources, evidence, or conditions.

Related Terms

Adequate
Suffice
Ample
Abundant

Detailed Definition

Adjective

Adequacy in Quantity: Having or providing as much as is needed of something in terms of quantity.‍
Example: The funds available were sufficient to cover the expenses of the project.

Adequacy in Quality: Having or providing an adequate quality or degree of something to meet a requirement.‍
Example: His skills were sufficient to meet the demands of the job.

Competence: Possessing the necessary skills or attributes to meet a particular standard.‍
Example: Her training was sufficient to prepare her for the challenges ahead.