sufficiency
C1Formal
Definition
Meaning
An adequate amount or quantity of something; enough to meet a need.
The state or fact of having enough of something (e.g., resources, skill, self-reliance). Can also refer to the philosophical concept of contentment with one's own resources or capacities, or an economic term for producing enough for one's own needs.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an uncountable noun. Often used in formal, academic, or legal contexts. It focuses on the state of being adequate rather than the process of providing. It can imply a minimum threshold being met, but also a state of comfortable adequacy or even self-contained abundance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in core meaning. The phrase "self-sufficiency" is more common than "sufficiency" alone in both dialects. Usage in policy/economics (e.g., energy sufficiency) is comparable.
Connotations
In both, it carries a formal, sometimes bureaucratic or legalistic tone. In philosophical or personal development contexts, it connotes independence and adequacy.
Frequency
Equally formal and relatively low-frequency in both dialects. Slightly more common in UK/EU policy documents regarding energy or food.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
sufficiency of [NOUN] (resources, evidence, food)sufficiency for [NOUN/PHRASE] (for our needs, for the project)achieve/reach/ensure sufficiencyVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A sufficiency of (formal/literary)”
- “Live in modest sufficiency”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in reports regarding resource allocation or financial planning: 'The audit questioned the sufficiency of the contingency fund.'
Academic
Common in philosophy (virtue of self-sufficiency), law (sufficiency of evidence), and economics: 'The study critiques the sufficiency of current models.'
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Might appear in formal discussions about lifestyle: 'They aim for a life of simple sufficiency.'
Technical
Used in engineering (e.g., structural sufficiency), statistics (sufficient statistic), and policy (energy sufficiency targets).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A - No verb form. Related verb: 'suffice'.
American English
- N/A - No verb form. Related verb: 'suffice'.
adverb
British English
- sufficiently
American English
- sufficiently
adjective
British English
- sufficient
American English
- sufficient
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We have sufficiency of bread for everyone.
- Water sufficiency is important for life.
- The government is working on energy sufficiency for the country.
- His income provides a modest sufficiency.
- The lawyer questioned the sufficiency of the evidence presented by the prosecution.
- Achieving food sufficiency is a major goal for the developing nation.
- Aristotle considered autarky, or self-sufficiency, to be a characteristic of the ideal state.
- The statistical model must meet the criterion of sufficiency to be considered valid for inference.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of SUFFICIENCY as having a SUFFICIENT supply of EFFICIENCY - it's enough to get the job done well.
Conceptual Metaphor
ADEQUACY IS A FULL CONTAINER / INDEPENDENCE IS STANDING ALONE (as in self-sufficiency).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'достаточность' (correct) and 'изобилие' (abundance, which is more than sufficiency). 'Self-sufficiency' is лучше translated as 'самодостаточность' or 'независимость', not just 'достаточность'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'a sufficiency' is possible but very formal/archaic). Confusing 'sufficiency' with 'efficiency'. Using it in overly casual contexts where 'enough' is better.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'sufficiency' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Sufficiency is about having 'enough' quantity or quality. Efficiency is about achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort or expense. Something can be sufficient but not efficient.
No, it is a formal word. In everyday speech, 'enough' is far more common. 'Sufficiency' is used in academic, legal, business, and technical writing.
No. Sufficiency implies an adequate or satisfactory amount, not an excessive one. Excess is beyond sufficiency. However, in some older or literary uses, 'a sufficiency' can imply a plentiful amount, but the core idea is still 'an adequate supply'.
It means the ability to fulfill one's own needs without external assistance. It often refers to individuals, households, or countries producing their own food, energy, etc., and being economically independent.