ɪnˈædəkwɪt dʒəˈdʒuːn pʊɹ pʊə(ɹ) ʃɔːt ʃɔɹt ʃoːt ʌnˈiːkwəl lacking the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task inadequate training the staff was inadequate she was unequal to the task of insufficient quantity to meet a need an inadequate income a poor salary money is short on short rations food is in short supply short on experience the jejune diets of the very poor