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sufficient
/səˈfɪʃənt/
enough
She had sufficient time to complete the assignment.
She had enough time to finish the task without rushing.
formal
Enough to meet a need or requirement.
The evidence was sufficient to convict the defendant.
The proof met the legal standard needed for a guilty verdict.
Do you have sufficient funds for the trip?
Is the money you have adequate to cover your travel expenses?
Used to describe quantities, resources, or qualities that meet a minimum standard. Often implies adequacy without excess.
Collocations
sufficient evidenceenough proof to support a claimsufficient fundsenough money to cover expensessufficient timeenough time to complete a task
Synonyms
Pro Tip
Avoid redundancy
Do not pair 'sufficient' with 'enough' (e.g., 'sufficient enough'). 'Sufficient' alone is sufficient!
Gold Rule
Use 'sufficient' for necessity, not excess
'Sufficient' describes the minimum required, not an abundance. For example, 'a sufficient amount of water' means the water meets the need, not that there is extra.
Word Origin
From Middle English *sufficiant*, from Old French *suffisant*, from Latin *sufficiens*, present participle of *sufficere* (to suffice), from *sub-* (under) + *facere* (to make).
Usage Notes
Commonly used in formal contexts, such as academic writing, legal documents, and technical reports. Avoid using 'sufficient' to describe people; instead, use 'qualified' or 'competent'.
Word Breakdown
suf-
under, up to
prefix-fic-
make, do
root-ent
performing a specified action
suffixEnglish Dictionary