Unsatisfactory

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˌʌnsætɪsˈfækt(ə)ɹi/

Definitions

1. Not meeting the required standard or expectation; inadequate or disappointing in quality or performance
2. Failing to meet desired standards in terms of quality or performance
3. lacking in satisfactory qualities or results

Etymology: "Unsatisfactory" is a plain compound: the negative prefix "un-", which English has used since Old English, attached to "satisfactory." The prefix carries the sense of "not," so the whole word means "not satisfactory," and the meaning has stayed close to the literal one over the centuries. The root beneath "satisfactory" is the Latin verb "satisfacere," meaning "to do enough," built from "satis" ("enough") and "facere" ("to make or do"). English took the stem through the adjective "satisfactory," and then the negative form was built on that, so the word is a clear example of how English readily adds "un-" to adjectives that already exist. Because the components are so transparent, the word needs little explanation beyond its parts.

Synonyms: disappointing, inadequate, unsatisfactory, subpar, deficient

Antonyms: satisfactory, acceptable, satisfactory, satisfying, pleasing