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insufficiency

A state of lacking the necessary amount or quality of something.
[C/U] Both
pl: insufficiencies

This term carries a clinical or technical weight, often appearing in medical reports or formal audits to describe a deficit that prevents a system from functioning correctly. It suggests a gap between what is currently present and what is required for stability or health.

While similar to shortage, insufficiency emphasizes the failure of the result rather than just the low quantity. A shortage is a lack of supply, but an insufficiency is a lack that causes a specific malfunction or inadequacy in performance.

Countable when referring to a specific medical condition or a distinct lack of a particular resource (a vitamin insufficiency). Uncountable when discussing the general state of not having enough of something.

Meanings

Noun

A state of lacking the necessary amount or quality of something.

The patient suffered from a severe insufficiency of iron in their blood.

Examples

There is an insufficiency of food.

Water insufficiency is a problem.

The insufficiency of light is bad.

We faced an insufficiency of funds last year.

The team struggled with an insufficiency of time.

An insufficiency of evidence led to the acquittal.

The patient was diagnosed with renal insufficiency.

Health

The kingdom fell due to a chronic insufficiency of grain.

History

I worry about the insufficiency of our current security.

Office

The project failed because of a systemic insufficiency of leadership.

Business

We apologize for the insufficiency of the provided documentation.

Apology

The treaty was voided due to an insufficiency of legal authority.

History

Related Words

Last Updated: May 2026Report an Error