indispensable
Americanadjective
-
absolutely necessary, essential, or requisite.
an indispensable member of the staff.
- Synonyms:
- needed
-
incapable of being disregarded or neglected.
an indispensable obligation.
noun
adjective
-
absolutely necessary; essential
-
not to be disregarded or escaped
an indispensable role
noun
Synonym Usage
See necessary.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of indispensable
First recorded in 1525–35; from Medieval Latin indispēnsābilis “not subject to dispensation.” See in- 3, dispensable
Explanation
Indispensable is a strong adjective for something that you couldn't do without. If you have asthma and you're packing for summer vacation, your inhaler is indispensable, unless you enjoy gasping on the beach. Something that is dispensable is something you could get rid of, like that box of yogurt-covered zucchini snacks that's been in the pantry for a year. So if something is indispensable you couldn't possibly go without it, like salt, or for some people, coffee. Chocolate is indispensable for chocolate chip cookies, as is furniture for the adult hide-and-go-seek league.
Vocabulary lists containing indispensable
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
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Starting Your New Life: Inspiring Words from Commencement Speeches
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Declaration of the Rights of Man (1789)
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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 words used to characterize the Dodgers’ starting rotation this postseason obscured what could be the most important adjective to describe the group: Indispensable.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 25, 2025
“We’ve made garlic fun,” Mr. Christopher told Linda and Fred Griffith for their 1998 book, “Garlic Garlic Garlic: More than 200 Exceptional Recipes for the World’s Most Indispensable Ingredient.”
From New York Times • Dec. 24, 2022
Six months and a run to the NBA Finals later, Mr. Expendable is suddenly Mr. Indispensable as the Celtics pursue their 18th championship.
From Seattle Times • Jun. 9, 2022
“The Indispensable Plan” visualizes the orderly, European-style capital the Frenchman expected, complete with such un-American features as an official national church.
From Washington Post • Dec. 14, 2018
Indispensable source for the study of land grants in Colonial Virginia.
From Mother Earth Land Grants in Virginia 1607-1699 by Robinson, Walter Stitt
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
