Sufficiency — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /sə-ˈfi-shən(t)-sē/ suf·fi·cien·cy

Meaning & Definition of Sufficiency

Sufficiency (noun)

  1. sufficient means to meet one's needs, competency; also, a modest but adequate scale of living
  2. the quality or state of being sufficient, adequacy

Sufficiency (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the quality or state of meeting one's needs adequately

    "the sufficiency of the portions is such that you will leave the restaurant with a full stomach but without doggie bags"

    similar: acceptability, adequacy, satisfactoriness
    related: appropriateness, correctness, fitness, goodness, properness, rightness, seemliness, suitability, suitableness, tolerability, bountifulness, copiousness, excess, overabundance, oversupply, surfeit, surplus, abundance, amplitude, opulence, plenitude, plenteousness, plentifulness, plentitude, plenty
    opposite: inadequacy, inadequateness, insufficiency, unsatisfactoriness
    near: lack, want, crunch, dearth, deficit, famine, shortage, meagerness, paucity, poorness, poverty, rareness, rarity, scantiness, scantness, scarceness, scarcity, skimpiness, necessity, need, privation

Related Entry: Self-sufficiency (noun)

Self-sufficiency is a different word from Sufficiency. The synonyms below are for self-sufficiency, not for sufficiency.

  1. the ability to care for one's self

    "self-sufficiency is a goal that all teenagers should work towards"

    similar: independence, self-dependence, self-reliance, self-subsistence, self-support
    related: autonomy, freedom, self-determination, potency, power, resilience, strength
    opposite: dependence, reliance
    near: helplessness, impotence, impotency, inadequacy, weakness

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Sufficiency

The most common words with a similar meaning to Sufficiency:

acceptability, adequacy, satisfactoriness

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Sufficiency

Words with the opposite meaning of Sufficiency:

inadequacy, inadequateness, insufficiency, unsatisfactoriness

Related Words for Sufficiency

appropriateness, correctness, fitness, goodness, properness, rightness, seemliness, suitability, suitableness, tolerability, bountifulness, copiousness, excess, overabundance, oversupply, surfeit, surplus, abundance, amplitude, opulence, plenitude, plenteousness, plentifulness, plentitude, plenty

Near Antonyms of Sufficiency

lack, want, crunch, dearth, deficit, famine, shortage, meagerness, paucity, poorness, poverty, rareness, rarity, scantiness, scantness, scarceness, scarcity, skimpiness, necessity, need, privation

Word Forms of Sufficiency

Inflections: sufficiencies

Origin & Etymology of Sufficiency

earlier sufficience in same sense (going back to Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Late Latin sufficientia, from Latin sufficient-, sufficiens sufficient + -ia -ia:1) + -ency

First known use: 15th century

Words & Phrases Containing Sufficiency

self-sufficiency

Frequently Asked Questions about Sufficiency

What does "Sufficiency" mean?

"Sufficiency" means sufficient means to meet one's needs, competency; also, a modest but adequate scale of living. As a noun, it is defined as: sufficient means to meet one's needs, competency; also, a modest but adequate scale of living.

What is another word for "Sufficiency"?

Other words for "Sufficiency" include acceptability, adequacy and satisfactoriness. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Sufficiency" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Sufficiency"?

There are 28 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Sufficiency". Common alternatives include acceptability, adequacy and satisfactoriness.

What is the opposite of "Sufficiency"?

Antonyms of "Sufficiency" include inadequacy, inadequateness, insufficiency and unsatisfactoriness. Near antonyms include lack, want, crunch and dearth.

How do you use "Sufficiency" in a sentence?

Examples of "Sufficiency" in a sentence: "the sufficiency of the portions is such that you will leave the restaurant with a full stomach but without doggie bags".

Is "Sufficiency" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Sufficiency" is a noun.

How do you pronounce "Sufficiency"?

"Sufficiency" is pronounced /sə-ˈfi-shən(t)-sē/ and divided into syllables as suf·fi·cien·cy.

What is the origin of the word "Sufficiency"?

"Sufficiency" comes from earlier sufficience in same sense (going back to Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Late Latin sufficientia, from Latin sufficient-, sufficiens sufficient + -ia -ia:1) + -ency. First known use: 15th century.