WordGarden.ionecessity
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /nəsˈɛsɪti/
US
- /nəˈsɛsəti/
Meanings
Noun
the state of being required, needed, or unavoidable
something indispensable, especially for basic everyday living
in logic or philosophy, the quality of being unavoidably or necessarily true
Beyond the definition
A necessity is not something nice to have. It is something you truly need in order to live, work, or deal with a situation. Think of air, water, and food; these are basic human necessities. But the word can also describe things that are not about survival and are still very important in a certain context. A warm coat is a necessity if you live somewhere with harsh winters. The phrase "necessity is the mother of invention" means that when people need something badly enough, they often find a way to create it.
Consider this: a farmer might see rain as a necessity for crops, while an event planner might see a backup indoor location as a necessity for an outdoor wedding. It all depends on what is truly needed in that situation.
The word "necessity" describes something that is absolutely required or indispensable. At its most fundamental level, it refers to things vital for survival - food, water, shelter, and air are all human necessities. Without these, life simply is not possible.
However, necessity extends beyond basic survival. It can also refer to requirements created by a particular situation or circumstance. A flashlight is a necessity during a power outage; a passport is a necessity for international travel. These are not things you need to stay alive, but they are essential for achieving a specific goal.
The famous phrase "necessity is the mother of invention" highlights how a strong need can drive creativity and innovation. When faced with a problem that demands a solution, people often find clever ways to overcome it because of that pressure.
"Necessity" can also be used to describe something unavoidable or inevitable. "It was a necessity for him to apologize" suggests he had no other choice. It implies a compelling reason or force making an action essential.
So whether you are talking about the bare essentials of life, requirements for a specific task, or the force behind invention, "necessity" always points to something that is truly needed and not easy to do without.
Examples
- 1
Daily needs
Clean drinking water is a daily necessity in every home.
- 2
Study needs
A reliable internet connection has become a necessity for many students.
- 3
Workplace training
The report stressed the necessity of better training for new staff.
- 4
No obligation
There is no necessity to reply tonight; tomorrow is fine.
- Usagethere is no necessity to do X
a fairly formal way to say you do not have to do it
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Practical choice
After losing his job, he moved back in with his parents out of necessity.
- Phraseout of necessity
because there was no other practical choice
- 6
Basic supplies
They packed only the basic necessities: clothes, medicine, and a little food.
- 7
Design limits
By necessity, the first version of the app was simple and cheap to build.
- Phraseby necessity
because the situation made it necessary
- 8
Proverb
Necessity is the mother of invention, so the team found a clever way to fix the problem with almost no money.
- Phrasenecessity is the mother of invention
difficult needs often lead to new ideas
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
- prerequisite
- imperative
- must-have
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- basic necessity
- absolute necessity
- necessity for
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- necessitynoun
Forms
- necessitiespluralnoun