satisfies

Satisfies is the third-person singular present tense form of the verb satisfy. It is used to indicate that something meets a requirement, fulfills a need or desire, or is acceptable in a given context. In everyday language, to say something satisfies a condition or standard is to say it is adequate or appropriate for that purpose.

The word originates from Old French satisfaire, from Latin satisfacere “to make enough” or “to please.” English usage entered in the late Middle Ages and has since developed in both practical and technical domains. Related forms include satisfy, satisfied, satisfying, and satisfaction.

Common uses span everyday, legal, and technical contexts. In ordinary speech, one might say a meal satisfies hunger or a plan satisfies safety requirements. In law or contracting, language such as a clause that “satisfies the regulatory requirements” is used to indicate compliance. In logic and computer science, “satisfies” describes a relationship between a model or interpretation and a formula or set of constraints: a model satisfies a formula if the formula is true under that model. In constraint satisfaction problems, a solution is said to satisfy all given constraints.

Notes on nuance: satisfying a standard does not necessarily imply optimality; it conveys adequacy or compliance rather than excellence. The term can be strengthened with adverbs such as fully or completely, or weakened with partially, depending on the degree of adequacy intended.