Satisfactory means good enough, though no better than that. A satisfactory result, satisfactory progress, less than satisfactory.
In inspection reports it is a grade rather than a compliment, and in some systems it sits just above the level that triggers intervention — which is why schools dread it. The Latin means doing enough.
1adjectivesatisfactoryGood enough, though no better than that.
“Her work this term has been satisfactory, but she could do better.”
satisfactory is a quality of adequacy.
Latin satisfactorius comes from satisfacere, to do enough — satis, enough, plus facere, to do.
Latin
satisfactōrius
Middle French
satisfactoire
English, today
satisfactory
Borrowed from Middle French satisfactoire, from Latin satisfactōrius, from Latin satisfactus, past participle of satisfaciō.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA