sufficiency
noun
suf·fi·cien·cy
sə-ˈfi-shən(t)-sē 
plural sufficiencies
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
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
Recent Examples on the Web
His attorneys plan to file motions challenging the sufficiency of the charges and alleging political pressure, while prosecutors prepare to disclose transcripts and records of his 2020 testimony.
—
Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Sep. 2025
To determine the sufficiency of the evidence, the appellate judges identified the reasonable inferences that could be drawn from the circumstances proved.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 19 Aug. 2025
Tsangari doles out information cagily, turning over narrative cards with calculated delay, a bare sufficiency that undercuts her world-building in favor of point-making; the just-enough story is also a just-so story.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2025
These need to be filed before the Patent Office to be assessed for both technical and legal sufficiency.
—Wen Xie, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for sufficiency
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Sep. 2025
To determine the sufficiency of the evidence, the appellate judges identified the reasonable inferences that could be drawn from the circumstances proved.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 19 Aug. 2025
Tsangari doles out information cagily, turning over narrative cards with calculated delay, a bare sufficiency that undercuts her world-building in favor of point-making; the just-enough story is also a just-so story.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2025
These need to be filed before the Patent Office to be assessed for both technical and legal sufficiency.
—Wen Xie, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for sufficiency
Cite this Entry
“Sufficiency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sufficiency. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sufficiency
noun
suf·fi·cien·cy
sə-ˈfish-ən-sē
plural sufficiencies
1
: sufficient means to meet one's needs
2
: the quality or state of being sufficient : adequacy
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share