How Do You Spell INADEQUATE?

Pronunciation: [ɪnˈadɪkwət] (IPA)

The word "inadequate" consists of five syllables and is commonly pronounced as "in-AD-uh-kwut." The pronunciation is denoted by the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The spelling of the word can be a bit tricky due to the sequence "ade" in the middle. However, the pronunciation of "ade" in "inadequate" is closer to "id" than "aid." This is because the "e" at the end of "ade" is not pronounced, but rather the "a" takes on the role of a schwa sound.

INADEQUATE Meaning and Definition

  1. The term "inadequate" is an adjective used to describe something that is not sufficient, capable, or suitable for a given purpose, often implying a sense of insufficiency, incompetence, or deficiency. It refers to a state or condition where what is provided or available falls short of meeting the desired or expected standard.

    When applied to a person or their abilities, "inadequate" suggests a lack of knowledge, skill, or experience required to perform a task or fulfill certain responsibilities. It denotes the inability to meet expectations or requirements set for one's role or position, indicating an inadequacy in terms of competence or capability.

    In the context of an object or material, being labeled as "inadequate" indicates that it is not able to fulfill its intended function fully, lacking the necessary properties, durability, or quality. This can refer to deficient supplies, insufficient resources, or limited capacity to perform as expected.

    Furthermore, "inadequate" can describe a situation or condition that fails to provide the necessary support, care, or attention required. This encompasses emotional, social, or physical aspects of life, suggesting a deficiency in meeting fundamental needs or expectations.

    Overall, "inadequate" conveys the idea of falling short, insufficiency, or a lack of adequacy in various contexts, reflecting a state or characteristic that does not meet the required or expected standard.

  2. Not equal to the real state or condition of a thing; incomplete; defective.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for INADEQUATE *

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for INADEQUATE

Etymology of INADEQUATE

The word "inadequate" has Latin roots. It is derived from the Latin word "inadequatus", which itself is formed from the prefix "in-" meaning "not" or "without", and the adjective "adequatus" meaning "sufficient" or "suitable". The Latin term "adequatus" can be further traced back to the verb "adequare", meaning "to make equal" or "to make sufficient". Over time, "inadequate" has come to mean "not sufficient" or "insufficient" in English.

Similar spelling words for INADEQUATE

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