inadequado

Inadequado is a Portuguese adjective used to describe something that does not meet the necessary standards, requirements, or purposes. It characterizes objects, actions, plans, or performances that are not fit for the intended use or context, often implying a mismatch rather than a simple deficiency. The term can cover issues of size, quality, suitability, or timeliness, and is common in everyday language as well as in formal reports, evaluations, and technical texts. For example, a budget that cannot cover all project needs or a design that does not work on mobile devices may be described as inadequado.

Etymology and form: inadequate derives from the prefix in- combined with adequado, itself from the Latin adequatus, meaning made equal or fit. The noun form is inadequação, and the related verb adequado is to make suitable, while inadequar is a rarer form meaning to render inadequate. The term is used in both Brazilian and European Portuguese with similar meanings.

Usage notes: The word conveys a negative assessment of fit or sufficiency and can carry varying degrees of severity depending on context. It is often preferred over weaker terms when the mismatch is substantial, but alternatives such as impróprio, insuficiente, or deficiente may be used for greater precision in specific situations.

See also: adequação, adequado, adequar, inadequação. Translations include English inadequate, Spanish inadecuado, French inadapté or inadéquat, and German unzureichend or unangemessen.

In everyday language and professional contexts, inadequado helps express that something fails to satisfy the criteria required for a given purpose, prompting revision, redesign, or replacement.