in·suf·fi·cien·cy

[in-suh-fish-uhn-see]
noun, plural in·suf·fi·cien·cies for 2.
1.
deficiency in amount, force, power, competence, or fitness; inadequacy: insufficiency of supplies.
2.
an instance of this.
3.
inability of an organ or other part of the body to function normally: cardiac insufficiency.
Also, in·suf·fi·cience.


Origin:
1375–1425; late Middle English < Late Latin insufficientia. See insufficient, -ency

self-in·suf·fi·cien·cy, noun, plural self·-in·suf·fi·cien·cies.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To insufficiency
00:10
Insufficiency is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
Collins
World English Dictionary
insufficiency (ˌɪnsəˈfɪʃənsɪ) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
1.  Also called: insufficience the state of being insufficient
2.  pathol failure in the functioning of an organ, tissue, etc: cardiac insufficiency

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

insufficiency in·suf·fi·cien·cy (ĭn'sə-fĭsh'ən-sē)
n.

  1. An inability of a bodily part or an organ to function normally.

  2. A moral or mental incompetence.

  3. An inadequate supply.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Example sentences
Kidney insufficiency or kidney failure is rare with unilateral hydronephrosis
  because the other kidney usually functions normally.
Although it is easy to treat, adrenal insufficiency can be tough to diagnose.
During an extreme form of adrenal insufficiency, adrenal crisis, you must
  inject hydrocortisone immediately.
The test is usually done for patients who are severely ill with acute kidney
  insufficiency.
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT