satisfactory meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

satisfactory

adj

/sætɪsˈfækt(ə)ɹi/

Etymology Borrowed from Middle French satisfactoire, from Late Latin satisfactōrius, from Latin satisfactus, past participle of satisfaciō.

Done to satisfaction; adequate or sufficient.

The satisfactory results of the survey led to his promotion.
The criterion of mental health is not one of individual adjustment to a given social order, but a universal one, valid for all men, of giving a satisfactory answer to the problem of human existence.1955, Erich Fromm, The Sane Society, Fawcet:

Causing satisfaction; agreeable or pleasant; satisfying.

To own a bit of ground, to scratch it with a hoe, to plant seeds, and watch their renewal of life,—this is the commonest delight of the race, the most satisfactory thing a man can do.1870, Charles Dudley Warner, “Preliminary”, in My Summer in a Garden, Boston: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, page 15:

Lifestyle, Religion, Theology Making atonement for a sin; expiatory.

[…] therefore the ſuffering of any other nature could not bee ſo pertinent, nor kindly ſatisfactory.1623, John Mayer, The English Catechisme Explained, 3rd edition, London: Aug. Mathewes, page 36:

Synonyms: 36 terms
acceptable, adequate, all right, average, close enough, close enough for government work, close enough for horseshoes and hand grenades, decent, favoursome, fair, fine, jake, good enough, good enough for government work, hunky dory, kosher, mustn't grumble, nonbad, not bad, not half bad, OK, okay, okayish, passable, pretty good, tolerable, up to par, up to scratch, up to snuff, reasonable, respectable, satisfactory, snug, sufficient, suitable, tickety-boo
Antonyms: awesome, excellent, wonderful, good, mediocre, bad, disappointing, inadequate, insufficient, poor, unsatisfactory, unsufficient
Derived terms: dissatisfactory, satisfactorily, satisfactoriness, unsatisfactory
Related terms: satisfaction, satisfied
Hypernyms: intermediate
Hyponyms: a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, all cats are grey in the dark, any hole's a goal, any port in a storm, beggars can't be choosers, don't look a gift horse in the mouth, half a loaf is better than none, Joan's as good as my lady in the dark, something is better than nothing

noun

Etymology Borrowed from Middle French satisfactoire, from Late Latin satisfactōrius, from Latin satisfactus, past participle of satisfaciō.

Somebody or something that meets requirements without exceeding them.

They seem quite big on more selectivity in breeding and stiffer tests to divide the satisfactories from rejects. They say that even the term 'satisfactories' is wrong because it suggests a level just above mediocrity.1978, Robert Thurston, Alicia II, page 143:

The rating given to somebody or something that meets requirements without exceeding them.

I've been a good student — mostly distinguisheds and only a few satisfactories […]1996, Donna E. Muncey, Patrick J. McQuillan, Reform and Resistance in Schools and Classrooms, page 130: