English Meaning & Definitions
Not satisfying or meeting expectations, requirements, or standards; inadequate or unacceptable.
- “The school board deemed the teacher's explanation for the missing funds highly unsatisfactory.”
- “After an unsatisfactory performance in the first half, the coach made several key substitutions.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “unsatisfactory”.
Derived from the prefix 'un-' (meaning 'not') combined with 'satisfactory', which comes from the Late Latin 'satisfactorius' (satisfying, atoning), from 'satisfacere' (to satisfy, literally 'to do enough'), from 'satis' (enough) + 'facere' (to do, make). It has been used in English since the late 17th century to describe things that fail to meet expectations or requirements.
Think of 'un-' (not) + 'satisfy' + 'factory'. If a factory produces goods that do not satisfy you, its output is unsatisfactory.
Frequently Asked Questions About “unsatisfactory”
1. What is the meaning of “unsatisfactory” in English?
In English, unsatisfactory (adjective) is defined as: “Not satisfying or meeting expectations, requirements, or standards; inadequate or unacceptable.”.
2. How do you use “unsatisfactory” in a sentence?
“The school board deemed the teacher's explanation for the missing funds highly unsatisfactory.”
3. What are English synonyms of “unsatisfactory”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “unsatisfactory”?
Derived from the prefix 'un-' (meaning 'not') combined with 'satisfactory', which comes from the Late Latin 'satisfactorius' (satisfying, atoning), from 'satisfacere' (to satisfy, literally 'to do enough'), from 'satis' (enough) + 'facere' (to do, make). It has been used in English since the late 17th century to describe things that fail to meet expectations or requirements.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
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A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
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A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.