dispensable

[ dih-spen-suh-buhl ]

adjective

1. capable of being dispensed with or done without; not necessary or essential.

   Synonyms: unimportant, extraneous, unessential, unnecessary, expendable

2. capable of being dispensed or administered:

   The money is not dispensable at present.

3. Roman Catholic Church. capable of being permitted or forgiven, as an offense or sin.

dispensable

/ dɪˈspɛnsəbəl /

adjective

1. not essential; expendable
2. capable of being distributed
3. (of a law, vow, etc) able to be relaxed

Derived Forms

• disˌpensaˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• dis·pensa·bili·ty dis·pensa·ble·ness noun
• nondis·pensa·ble adjective
• undis·pensa·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dispensable¹

1525–35; < Medieval Latin dispēnsābilis, equivalent to Latin dispēns ( āre ) to distribute by weight ( dispense ) + -ābilis -able

Example Sentences

“It is very shocking that such a large collection at a wealthy university would be deemed dispensable,” said Regina Baucom, a plant geneticist at the University of Michigan.

From New York Times

“China-U.S. cooperation is no longer a dispensable option for the two countries or even for the world, but a must-answer question that must be seriously addressed,” he said.

From Seattle Times

"People can simply go berserk because they're being treated like dispensable meat which deserves no sympathy. And this attitude is in reality not uncommon," the account calling itself the Grey Zone Philologist said.

From BBC

In his remarks, Francis also repeated his opposition to euthanasia, which he has long decried as a symptom of a “throwaway culture” which treats the elderly and infirm as dispensable.

From Washington Times

The wrestlers, too, admit they feel "rather dispensable", but say that they will continue protesting until their demands are met even if their careers suffer.

From BBC