essential

[ uh-sen-shuhl ]

adjective

1. absolutely necessary; indispensable:

   Discipline is essential in an army.

   Synonyms: vital, intrinsic, inherent, basic, fundamental

2. pertaining to or constituting the essence of a thing.

   Antonyms: accidental, extrinsic, extraneous, incidental

3. noting or containing an essence of a plant, drug, etc.
4. being such by its very nature or in the highest sense; natural; spontaneous:

   essential happiness.

5. Mathematics.
   1. (of a singularity of a function of a complex variable) noting that the Laurent series at the point has an infinite number of terms with negative powers.
   2. (of a discontinuity) noting that the function is discontinuous and has no limit at the point. Compare removable ( def 2 ).

noun

1. a basic, indispensable, or necessary element; chief point:

   Concentrate on essentials rather than details.

essential

/ ɪˈsɛnʃəl; ɪˌsɛnʃɪˈælɪtɪ /

adjective

1. vitally important; absolutely necessary
2. basic; fundamental

   the essential feature

3. completely realized; absolute; perfect

   essential beauty

4. biochem (of an amino acid or a fatty acid) necessary for the normal growth of an organism but not synthesized by the organism and therefore required in the diet
5. derived from or relating to an extract of a plant, drug, etc

   an essential oil

6. logic (of a property) guaranteed by the identity of the subject; necessary. Thus, if having the atomic number 79 is an essential property of gold, nothing can be gold unless it has that atomic number
7. music denoting or relating to a note that belongs to the fundamental harmony of a chord or piece
8. pathol (of a disease) having no obvious external cause

   essential hypertension

9. geology (of a mineral constituent of a rock) necessary for defining the classification of a rock. Its absence alters the rock's name and classification

noun

1. something fundamental or indispensable

   a sharp eye is an essential for a printer

2. music an essential note

Derived Forms

• essentiality, noun

Other Words From

• es·sential·ly adverb
• es·sential·ness noun
• prees·sential noun adjective
• prees·sential·ly adverb
• quasi-es·sential adjective
• quasi-es·sential·ly adverb
• subes·sential adjective
• subes·sential·ly adverb
• subes·sential·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of essential¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English essencial, from Late Latin essentiālis. See essence, -al ¹

Synonym Study

See necessary. Essential, inherent, intrinsic refer to that which is in the natural composition of a thing. Essential suggests that which is in the very essence or constitution of a thing: Oxygen and hydrogen are essential in water. Inherent means inborn or fixed from the beginning as a permanent quality or constituent of a thing: properties inherent in iron. Intrinsic implies belonging to the nature of a thing itself, and comprised within it, without regard to external considerations or accidentally added properties: the intrinsic value of diamonds.

Example Sentences

Shariyf said hopefully this state will serve as “an essential resource” in the Southwest, including Texas.

From Salon

Here’s where Tanton’s personal history becomes essential to understanding America’s recent resurgence of immigrant hate.

From Salon

For displacement to be lawful, civilians must be moved safely and provided with accommodation and essential supplies.

From BBC

This won't help you get tickets, but is an essential part of the annual routine.

From BBC

Lennox, a Belfast native who previously worked on the Troubles-themed coming of age comedy “Derry Girls,” played an essential role in setting its tone which, though grim, is also inflected with dark humor.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• crucial
• fundamental
• imperative
• important
• indispensable
• main
• necessary
• needed
• vital