Showing results for necessary condition. Search instead for Antecedent conditions.

necessary condition

Cultural

In mathematics, a condition that must be satisfied for a statement to be true, but that does not in and of itself make it true. For example, a necessary condition to become president of the United States is that a candidate be over thirty-five years of age, but just being over thirty-five does not make one president.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The necessary condition for Powell to leave is to clear up the legal matters.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 30, 2026

But military analysts say clearing them is a necessary condition for ships to be able to sail again through the middle of the strategic waterway rather than the slower and more congested Iranian routes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 19, 2026

"Reducing inflation was a necessary condition, but it is not sufficient."

From Barron's • Oct. 22, 2025

This meant oxygen is a necessary condition for Candida growth.

From Science Daily • Jun. 4, 2024

Each, I believe, is a necessary condition for the other.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023