Dictionary

necessity en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /nɪˈsɛsəti/
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English necessite, from Old French necessite, from Latin necessitās (“unavoidableness, compulsion, exigency, necessity”), from necesse (“unavoidable, inevitable”); see necessary. Doublet of Necessitas.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) The quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite.
   • Educating the public about some of the myths that underlie their fears that non-traditional families will of necessity be detrimental to the well-being of foster children. 1985 December 7, Kim Westheimer, quoting Carol Brill, “Toy Dolls, Fake Dukakis 'Hear' Foster Testimony”, in Gay Community News, volume 13, number 21, page 1:
   • Seeing the British establishment struggle with the financial sector is like watching an alcoholic […]. Until 2008 there was denial over what finance had become. […] But the scandals kept coming, […]. A broad section of the political class now recognises the need for change but remains unable to see the necessity of a fundamental overhaul. 2013 June 28, Joris Luyendijk, “Our banks are out of control”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 3, page 21:
   • The report I wrote was of necessity rushed and full of errors.
   • I bought a new table out of necessity. My old one was ruined.
2. (countable, uncountable) The condition of being needy; desperate need; lack.
   • For it is in vain for a man to think to seek God in his necessity and exigence, if he seek not God in his ordinances, and do not joy in them. 1863, Richard Sibbes, “The Successful Seeker”, in The Complete Works of Richard Sibbes, D.D., Volume VI, James Nichol, page 125:
3. (countable, uncountable) Something necessary; a requisite; something indispensable.
   • Look for the bare necessities / The simple bare necessities / Forget about your worries and your strife 1967, Terry Gilkyson, “The Bare Necessities”, in The Jungle Book:
   • A tent is a necessity if you plan on camping.
   • Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive. 20th century, Tenzin Gyatso (attributed)
4. (countable, uncountable) Something which makes an act or an event unavoidable; an irresistible force; overruling power.
   • I stopped, and said with inly muttered voice, 'It doth not love the shower, nor seek the cold: This neither is its courage nor its choice, But its necessity in being old. 1804, The Small Celandine, Wordsworth:
   • After eating a full meal, the human body's necessity for food will compel the person to eat again in the future.
5. (countable, uncountable) The negation of freedom in voluntary action; the subjection of all phenomena, whether material or spiritual, to inevitable causation; necessitarianism.
6. (countable, uncountable) Greater utilitarian good; used in justification of a criminal act.
   • doctrine of necessity
7. (countable, in-plural, uncountable) Indispensable requirements (of life).

Forms

Antonyms

impossibility (antonym(s) of “state of being necessary”) · luxury (antonym(s) of “something indispensable”) · contingency (antonym(s) of “state of being necessary”)

Deriveds

necessitarian · necessity knows no law · needcessity · necessity money · make a virtue of necessity · money of necessity · necessity is the mother of invention · doctrine of necessity · necessitied · necessitous · war of necessity · necessity is the mother of innovation · daily necessities · unnecessity · nonnecessity · bare necessities · work of necessity · doctrine of philosophical necessity

Relateds

necessitative · necessitate · necessitousness · necessitation · necessitude · necessary · necessariness

Synonyms

inevitability (state of being necessary) · necessariness (state of being necessary) · certainty (state of being necessary) · requisite (requirement) · needfulness (state of being necessary)

Translations (209)

tr gereklilik (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · sh neophódnōst (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · kmr ihtiyac (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · fa-ira اِحْتِیاج (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · cmn 需求 (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · gd feum (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · be неабхо́днасць (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · tt ихтыяҗ (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · bg прину́да (negation of freedom in voluntary action) · cs nezbytnost (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · pt necessidade (that which is necessary) · sh pȍtreba (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · ckb پێویست (that which is necessary) · es menester (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · fi tarvekalu (that which is necessary) · ml ആവശ്യം (that which is necessary) · pt necessidade (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · be патрэ́ба (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · he צורך \ צֹרֶךְ (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · ne आवश्यकता (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · fi puute (condition of being needy or necessitous) · cmn 必要 (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · da fornødenhed (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · pt necessidade (that which makes an act or an event unavoidable) · sv nöd (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · la necessaria (that which is necessary) · hu muszáj (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · id kebutuhan (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · mk нужда (condition of being needy or necessitous) · nl behoefte (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · el ανάγκη (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · sk potreba (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · ast necesidá (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · be кане́чнасць (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · hy կարիք (condition of being needy or necessitous) · ms keperluan (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · ko 요구 (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · ru необходи́мость (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · tl pangangailangan (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · ko 필요 (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · ur ضَرُورَت (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · pl konieczność (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · de Notwendigkeit (that which is necessary) · hi आवश्यकता (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · te అవసరం (that which is necessary) · ca necessitat (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · sw haja (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · fi väistämättömyys (that which makes an act or an event unavoidable) · fi pakko (negation of freedom in voluntary action) · ka საჭიროება (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · uz zaruriyat (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · fa-ira نِیاز (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · eo neceso (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · hu szükségesség (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · ja 要求 (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · is þörf (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · ba кәрәклек (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · ja 必要性 (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · uk доконе́чність (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · az ehtiyac (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · mk нужда (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · cs nutnost (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · th ความต้องการ (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · fr besoin (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · cs nutnost (that which is necessary) · sk nutnosť (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · ps حاجت (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · ko 필수품 (that which is necessary) · fi välttämättömyys (negation of freedom in voluntary action) · ps نياز (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · it necessità (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · fi välttämättömyys (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · fr nécessité (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · vi nhu cầu (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · hi अनिवार्यता (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · sh ну̏жно̄ст (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · lv vajadzība (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · tk zerurlyk (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · sk nevyhnutnosť (that which is necessary) · be кане́чнасьць (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · eo neceseco (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · mk нужда (that which is necessary) · pdt Muss (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · be неабхо́днасьць (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · gd feum (condition of being needy or necessitous) · la necessitās (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · fi välttämättömyys (that which makes an act or an event unavoidable) · uz zarurat (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · ps لزوم (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · ru предме́т пе́рвой необходи́мости (that which is necessary) · fi tarpeellisuus (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · hi ज़रूरत (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · sh по̏треба (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · cmn 要求 (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · uz zarurlik (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · ja 必要 (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · da nødvendighed (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · cv кирлӗлӗх (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · ky муктаждык (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · uz keraklik (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · tg эҳтиёҷ (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · ja 必然性 (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · da behov (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · lt poreikis (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · tr lüzum (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · fa-ira ضَرورَت (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · ro necesitate (that which is necessary) · ms hajat (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · bg ну́жда (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · tt кирәклек (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · ky зарылчылык (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · ja 必需品 (that which is necessary) · sv nödvändighet (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · fi tarve (condition of being needy or necessitous) · fi väistämättömyys (negation of freedom in voluntary action) · be нужа́ (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · sq nevojë (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · fi tarvike (that which is necessary) · ar حَاجَة (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · ps ضرورت (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · tg ниёз (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · ky зарылдык (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · cs nouze (condition of being needy or necessitous) · tr zorunluluk (that which is necessary) · de Bedarf (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · bn জরুরৎ (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · fi välttämättömyystarvike (that which is necessary) · uk нужда́ (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · nb nødvendighet (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · be патрэ́бнасць (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · el αναγκαιότητα (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · bg потре́бност (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · cmn 必要性 (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · de Notwendigkeit (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · eo necesaĵo (that which is necessary) · ru потре́бность (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · lv vajadzība (that which is necessary) · be патрэ́бнасьць (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · my လိုအပ်ခြင်း (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · sv nödvändighet (that which is necessary) · ja ニーズ (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · fi tarve (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · ckb پێویستی (condition of being needy or necessitous) · ia besonio (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · mk неопходност (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · ur اِحْتِیاج (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · ps احتياج (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · cmn 必需品 (that which is necessary) · kmr pêwîst (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · ka აუცილებლობა (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · uk потре́ба (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · be нужда́ (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · pl potrzeba (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · az zərurət (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · de Bedürfnis (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · es necesidad (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · ru на́добность (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · sl nuja (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · ar ضَرُورَة (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · sh nȕžnōst (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · grc ἀνάγκη (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · ru нужда́ (condition of being needy or necessitous) · sv behov (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · ru нужда́ (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · tr gereklilik (that which is necessary) · gd èiginn (condition of being needy or necessitous) · cu нужда (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · uk необхі́дність (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · pl artykuł pierwszej potrzeby (that which is necessary) · sk núdza (condition of being needy or necessitous) · ur ضَرُورَت (that which is necessary) · fi korvaamattomuus (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · tg зарурат (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · bg необходи́мост (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · nb behov (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · fi puutteellisuus (condition of being needy or necessitous) · hy անհրաժեշտություն (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · uz ehtiyoj (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · kk қажеттілік (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · sq mbëhi (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · de Bedürftigkeit (condition of being needy or necessitous) · ug ئېھتىياج (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · de Not (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · it bisogno (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · sh неопхо́дно̄ст (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · vi sự cần thiết (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · orv нужа (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · et vajalikkus (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · ug زۆرۈرىيەت (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · ro necesitate (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · cu ноужда (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · hu szükség (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · cs nezbytnost (that which is necessary) · ko 필요성 (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · de Nezessität (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · fi puutteenalaisuus (condition of being needy or necessitous) · ba ихтыяж (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · sl potreba (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · id keperluan (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · gl necesidade (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · sl nujnost (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · bg ну́жда (condition of being needy or necessitous) · ga riachtanas (that which is necessary) · te అవసరం (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · ckb پێویست (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · fi kohtalo (that which makes an act or an event unavoidable) · mk потреба (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · tr ihtiyaç (quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite) · fi tarve (that which is necessary)