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Glite Dictionary
to satisfice

to satisfice

1 9.1
To choose the first option that is good enough instead of trying to find the best
  • verb
  • /ˈsætɪsfaɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : satisfacer
  • Anyway, after having spent a ton of time thinking about it, even if this isn't the optimal decision, I think it will satisfice and we'll be okay under most circumstances.

Examples

  • Think, Steve Krug applies the idea of satisficing to the behavior you can observe when someone comes to your website.

    Blog text (26)

  • When it matters, we can move learners beyond satisficing to scholarship.

    Academic text (2006)

  • So if people "satisfice" rather than "optimize," what are the implications for those of us who design websites, software, products, or even design surveys?

    Blog text (26)

  • Google, like all search engines, is incredibly good at satisficing complex queries, giving users the impression that their question has been answered.

    Blog text (23)

  • In order to finish the project on time, we decided to satisfice and meet only the basic requirements.

  • Instead of aiming for perfection, she chose to satisfice with a functional design that met the client's needs.

  • When faced with too many options, he often satisficed by picking the first acceptable choice.

Synonyms

to satisfise
vsto satisfice
  • UK
9.9

To pick the first thing that is good enough

is the same idea but named with a different spelling

Antonyms

to maximize
133 4.1

To make something as large or useful as possible

How Optimal

to optimize
69 5.3
to strive
156 3.7
to satisfice
  • Specialized
1 9.1
to settle for
143 3.6

Surface Forms

satisfice infinitive
satisficing present participle
satisfices third person singular
satisfied past
satisfied past participle

Morphology

satisfice = satisfy + suffice (semi-transparent) = satisfy + suffice

The coinage clearly evokes 'satisfy' and 'suffice', so parts are recognizable, but the specialized technical sense ('choose a minimally acceptable option') is not fully predictable for typical learners.

Etymology

Satisfice was made by joining satisfy ('to meet needs') and suffice ('to be enough'). So, to satisfice is to choose something 'good enough' to reach your goal instead of spending time trying to find the very best.