Niedostateczny

Niedostateczny is a Polish adjective meaning not sufficient, inadequate, or unsatisfactory. It is used to describe amounts, qualities, or performances that fail to meet required standards.

Etymology and forms: The word is formed with the negating prefix nie- added to dostateczny (adequate). It follows standard Polish adjective inflection, with gender-specific forms: masculine singular niedostateczny, feminine singular niedostateczna, neuter singular niedostateczne. Plural forms align with the noun they modify, e.g., niedostateczni (masculine personal), niedostateczne (neuter or plural) and feminine plural forms as appropriate.

Usage: Niedostateczny is employed in both formal and everyday language to denote insufficiency or inadequacy. Examples include statements such as “Wynik był niedostateczny” (the result was unsatisfactory) or “niedostateczny sprzęt” (inadequate equipment). In educational contexts, the term has traditionally referred to a failing or below-standard grade on certain scales, where dostateczny denotes a passing level; however, grading practices vary by institution and country.

Related forms: The noun form niedostateczność refers to insufficiency or inadequacy, and the adverb niedostatecznie means insufficiently. Antonyms include dostateczny (adequate) and synonyms such as niewystarczający or nieodpowiedni, depending on context.

See also: Dostateczny, Niewystarczający, Nieodpowiedni.

Notes: While commonly understood, the exact implications of niedostateczny can differ by context, especially in formal education versus everyday speech. The term is widely recognized in Polish dictionaries and usage guides as describing something that does not meet required standards.

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