insufficiency

in·suf·fi·cien·cy

noun \ˌin(t)-sə-ˈfi-shən(t)-sē\

plural in·suf·fi·cien·cies

Definition of INSUFFICIENCY

1

: the quality or state of being insufficient: as a : lack of mental or moral fitness : incompetence <the insufficiency of this person for public office> b : lack of adequate supply <insufficiency of provisions> c : lack of physical power or capacity; especially : inability of an organ or body part to function normally <renal insufficiency>

2

: something that is insufficient or falls short of expectations

Examples of INSUFFICIENCY

1. <dealt with the school's insufficiency of art supplies by buying materials out of her own pocket>
2. <her alleged insufficiency for the job>

First Known Use of INSUFFICIENCY

1526

Related to INSUFFICIENCY

Synonyms: crunch, dearth, deficit, drought (also drouth), failure, famine, inadequacy, inadequateness, deficiency, lack, lacuna, paucity, pinch, poverty, scantiness, scarceness, scarcity, shortage, undersupply, want

Antonyms: abundance, adequacy, amplitude, opulence, plenitude, plenty, sufficiency, wealth

Related Words: absence, omission; meagerness, poorness, skimpiness; necessity, need, privation

Near Antonyms: bountifulness, copiousness; excess, overabundance, oversupply, surfeit, surplus

see all synonyms and antonyms

[+]more[-]hide