definitions

necessity

[ nuh-ses-i-tee ]
/ nəˈsɛs ɪ ti /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR necessity ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural ne·ces·si·ties.

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RELATED WORDS

naturally, unquestionably, undoubtedly, automatically, accordingly, consequently, fundamentally, indubitably, perforce, positively, willy-nilly, axiomatically, cardinally, compulsorily, incontrovertibly, ineluctably, inescapably, inexorably, irresistibly, significantly

Nearby words

necessitarian, necessitarianism, necessitate, necessitous, necessitude, necessity, necessity is the mother of invention, nechako, neches, necho, neck

Idioms

    of necessity, as an inevitable result; unavoidably; necessarily: Our trip to China must of necessity be postponed for a while.

Origin of necessity

1325–75; Middle English necessite < Latin necessitās, equivalent to necess(e) needful + -itās -ity

Related forms

non·ne·ces·si·ty, noun, plural non·ne·ces·si·ties.su·per·ne·ces·si·ty, noun, plural su·per·ne·ces·si·ties.

Synonym study

3. See need.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for of necessity

necessity

/ (nɪˈsɛsɪtɪ) /

noun plural -ties

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

Idioms and Phrases with of necessity (1 of 2)

of necessity

Also, out of necessity. As an inevitable consequence, unavoidably, as in the New Testament: “Of necessity he must release one unto them at the Feast” (Luke 23:17). [Late 1300s]

Idioms and Phrases with of necessity (2 of 2)

necessity

In addition to the idiom beginning with necessity

  • necessity is the mother of invention

also see:

  • make a virtue of necessity
  • of necessity
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.