Not adequate, acceptable, or pleasing; failing to meet expectations or requirements.
From 'dis-' plus 'satisfactory' (from Latin satisfactorius, meaning adequate or sufficient). The prefix negates the positive quality, creating its opposite through a standard English negation pattern.
Schools and employers often use 'dissatisfactory' on formal evaluations because it sounds more official and documented than simply saying 'bad'—it's the language of paperwork and bureaucracy!
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