unnecessary

[ uhn-nes-uh-ser-ee ]

adjective

1. not necessary or essential; needless; unessential.

noun

, plural un·nec·es·sar·ies.

1. unnecessaries, things that are not necessary or essential.

unnecessary

/ ʌnˈnɛsɪsərɪ; -ɪsrɪ /

adjective

1. not necessary

Derived Forms

• unˈnecessariness, noun
• unˈnecessarily, adverb

Other Words From

• un·nec·es·sar·i·ly [uhn-nes-, uh, -, sair, -, uh, -lee, -, nes, -, uh, -ser-], adverb
• un·neces·sari·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of unnecessary¹

First recorded in 1540–50; un- ¹ + necessary

Related Words

• avoidable
• futile
• gratuitous
• irrelevant
• needless
• redundant
• superfluous
• unneeded
• useless
• worthless