What is "satisfice"

1560s, "to satisfy" (implied in satisficed), altered of satisfy by influence of its Latin root satisfacere. A Northern English colloquial word; modern use from c.1956 may be an independent formation. Related: Satisficing.

Etymology 1 vb. (context obsolete transitive English) To satisfy. Etymology 2

vb. (context social science of human behavior intransitive English) To make a choice that suffices to fulfill the minimum requirements to achieve an objective, without special regard for utility maximization or optimization of one's preferences.

v. decide on and pursue a course of action satisfying the minimum requirements to achieve a goal; "optimization requires processes that are more complex than those needed to merely satisfice" [syn: staisfise]