Definition of insufficient

The word "insufficient" derives from the Latin prefix "in-" meaning "not," and the verb "sufficere" meaning "to be enough." The Latin root "sufficere" also gave us the English words "sufficient" and "suffice." In Middle English, the term "insuffisant" appeared around the 14th century, and by the 15th century, it had evolved into "insufficient" in Middle English and later in Early Modern English. The word entered into various European languages alongside English, including French, German, and Spanish. In its earliest sense, "insufficient" indicated a quantity that was not enough for a specific purpose or demand. Over time, its meaning expanded to encompass a range of contexts, such as when resources, time, expertise, or knowledge fall short of a particular requirement or expectation. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) states that the term "insufficient" was often employed in a religious context in the early modern era to describe a person who lacked the necessary faith or piety to achieve salvation. It also used to describe a person who lacked the required qualifications to be ordained in the Church. Today, "insufficient" continues to be a widely used word in various academic, legal, and professional domains, where it signifies a lack of adequacy or appropriateness in various circumstances.