unzureichender

Unzureichender is a German adjective meaning “inadequate” or “insufficient.” It describes something that does not meet required standards or expectations, such as evidence, resources, plans, or arguments. The form is used attributively before nouns and is common in formal, administrative, or legal contexts.

Etymology: The word combines the prefix un- with zureichend (from zureichen, to suffice), yielding unzureichend meaning lacking sufficiency. Unzureichender is the masculine singular attributive form (for example, ein unzureichender Plan).

Usage: It is typically used to indicate insufficiency in evaluation, compliance, research, and policy writing. Synonyms include unzureichend, mangelhaft, and ungenügend. Subtleties include unzureichend reflecting a lacking sufficiency, ungenügend conveying failure to meet expectations, and mangelhaft stressing defects.

Declension: It is used attributively and changes with gender, number, and case. Examples:

- Masculine: der unzureichende Plan; ein unzureichender Plan

- Feminine: die unzureichende Begründung; eine unzureichende Begründung

- Neuter: das unzureichende Budget; ein unzureichendes Budget

- Plural: die unzureichenden Daten

In predicate position you typically find unzureichend: Die Daten sind unzureichend.