necessary

nec-es-sar-y · adjective

imported

Definitions

adjective

  1. 1.

    Required to be done, achieved, or present; essential.

  2. 2.

    Determined or imposed by circumstances; inevitable.

  3. 3.

    (philosophy/logic) True under all circumstances; logically inevitable.

  4. 4.

    (the necessary) The basic requirements of life.

Related words

Antonyms: dispensable, optional, unnecessary
See also: essential, need, required
Synonyms: essential, needed, required

Etymology

From Latin "necessarius" meaning "unavoidable, indispensable," from "necesse" (necessary), possibly from "ne-" (not) + "cedere" (to give way). The idea is something that cannot be avoided.