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

Example Sentences

Some sources in government have expressed concerns that the chancellor is creating unnecessary grief over a change that is not, in relative terms, a huge money spinner.

From BBC

Campaigners supporting the bill, including broadcaster Dame Esther Rantzen, argue terminally ill people should get a choice over how they die to avoid unnecessary suffering.

From BBC

These measures may be unnecessary in liberal states where abortion remains legal — and let’s hope they are.

From Los Angeles Times

That categorization is potentially dangerous to patients, an unnecessary source of middle-of-the-night stress that can be deeply damaging to the very quality of life this person seeks to retain.

From Los Angeles Times

Remember the version of Mark Zuckerberg who wore the same gray T-shirt, day after day, because he didn’t want to burden himself with unnecessary decisions?

From Salon

Related Words

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