nonessential

[non-uh-sen-shuh l]

See more synonyms for nonessential on Thesaurus.com

adjective

not essential; not necessary: Nonessential use of gasoline was forbidden during the war.

noun

a nonessential thing or person.

Origin of nonessential

First recorded in 1745–55; non- + essential

Synonyms

See more synonyms for nonessential on Thesaurus.com

1. unnecessary, incidental, extrinsic.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for non-essential

Contemporary Examples

But on several occasions there have been mini-evacuations with non-essential embassy staff withdrawn.
U.S. Diplomats and Marines Close Embassy and Flee Libya Fighting
Jamie Dettmer
July 27, 2014
Every main level also features three non-essential objectives, giving yet another reason to try and try and try again every time.
Gamer Life: I’m Addicted to ‘Peggle 2’
Alec Kubas-Meyer
December 11, 2013

Historical Examples

In the sphere of the non-essential there is no law,—there you are free.
The Essence of Christianity
Ludwig Feuerbach
But was this frankness merely because she was dealing with what was non-essential to her?
The Second Fiddle
Phyllis Bottome
The visibility or the invisibility of the glory of God does not render it non-essential to him.
Absurdities of Immaterialism
Orson Pratt
There was other happiness in the world besides the non-essential one of love.
The Fighting Chance
Robert W. Chambers
He accordingly pronounced it to be non-essential to the validity of warrants.
The Press-Gang Afloat and Ashore
John R. Hutchinson

British Dictionary definitions for non-essential

nonessential

adjective

not essential; not necessary
biochem (of an amino acid in a particular organism) able to be synthesized from other substances

noun

a nonessential person or thing

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for non-essential

adj.

also nonessential, 1717, from non- + essential (adj.). Attested as a noun from 1806.

non-essential in Medicine

nonessential

(nŏn′ĭ-sĕn′shəl)

adj.

Being a substance required for normal functioning but not needed in the diet because the body can synthesize it.

nonessential

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Synonyms

Examples from the Web for non-essential

Contemporary Examples

But on several occasions there have been mini-evacuations with non-essential embassy staff withdrawn.

Every main level also features three non-essential objectives, giving yet another reason to try and try and try again every time.

Historical Examples

In the sphere of the non-essential there is no law,—there you are free.

But was this frankness merely because she was dealing with what was non-essential to her?

The visibility or the invisibility of the glory of God does not render it non-essential to him.

There was other happiness in the world besides the non-essential one of love.

He accordingly pronounced it to be non-essential to the validity of warrants.

nonessential

Word Origin and History for non-essential

adj.

nonessential

Origin of nonessential