sat ‧ is ‧ fac ‧ to ‧ ry /ˌsætəsˈfækt ə ri◂, ˌsætɪsˈfækt ə ri◂/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: adjective : ↑ satisfactory ≠ ↑ unsatisfactory , ↑ satisfied ≠ ↑ dissatisfied ≠ ↑ unsatisfied , ↑ satisfying ; adverb : ↑ satisfactorily ≠ UNSATISFACTORILY , ↑ satisfyingly ; verb : ↑ satisfy ; noun : ↑ satisfaction ≠ ↑ dissatisfaction ]
something that is satisfactory seems good enough for you, or good enough for a particular situation or purpose OPP unsatisfactory :
His progress this term has been satisfactory.
satisfactory to/for
an arrangement that is satisfactory to both sides
satisfactory explanation/answer
There seems to be no satisfactory explanation.
perfectly/entirely/wholly satisfactory
None of the solutions was entirely satisfactory.
satisfactory result/outcome/resolution
—satisfactorily adverb :
The question has not been satisfactorily answered.
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COLLOCATIONS
■ adverbs
▪ very/highly/most satisfactory
After her initial difficulties she has made a very satisfactory recovery.
▪ perfectly/quite satisfactory
For a small amount of cream, a wire whisk is perfectly satisfactory.
▪ not entirely/wholly/completely
Frege’s theory is not entirely satisfactory.
▪ far from satisfactory
This system was far from satisfactory for a number of reasons.
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THESAURUS
▪ satisfactory good enough – often used when something reaches a fairly good standard, but is not of a high standard:
Her grades are satisfactory.
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For a beginner, this camera produces satisfactory results.
▪ all right/OK spoken not bad, but not very good:
The meal was all right, but rather expensive.
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‘How was the film?’ ‘It was OK.’
▪ reasonable fairly good:
a reasonable standard of living
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The quality of the food was reasonable.
▪ acceptable if something is acceptable to you, you think it is good enough and you are willing to take it:
an acceptable offer
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an acceptable level of risk
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They can't find a solution that is acceptable to both sides.
▪ adequate enough in quantity, or of a good enough standard. Adequate sounds rather formal and is used especially in official contexts:
an adequate supply of drinking water
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adequate standards of hygiene
▪ decent especially spoken good enough in quality – used especially when something is as good as most other things:
I want my kids to get a decent education.
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Where can I get a decent cup of coffee?
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The food’s decent and the service is good.
▪ passable satisfactory, but not of the best quality – used especially about food and drink, or someone’s skill at doing something. Passable sounds rather formal:
a passable French wine
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His Japanese was passable.
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a passable imitation of Barack Obama
▪ be up to scratch informal to be of a good enough standard:
His work wasn’t up to scratch.
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None of the hotels they suggested were up to scratch.
▪ will do informal to be good enough for a particular purpose:
Any kind of paper will do.
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‘How about Ken?’ ‘I suppose he’ll do.’