unessential

American  

[uhn-uh-sen-shuhl] / ˌʌn əˈsɛn ʃəl /

adjective

1. not of prime importance; not indispensable.

   Synonyms:

   unimportant, dispensable, unnecessary

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noun

1. an unessential thing; nonessential.

unessential British  

/ ˌʌnɪˈsɛnʃəl /

adjective

1. a less common word for inessential

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noun

1. something that is not essential

Other Word Forms

• unessentially adverb

Etymology

Origin of unessential

First recorded in 1650–60; un- ¹ + essential

Example Sentences

In all, the resort had one, unessential ski lift damaged, while a few ski patrol and maintenance shacks burned down.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 20, 2024

The use of lighting that is brighter than needed, or turned on at unessential times, has caused a widespread global fog of light.

From Salon • Apr. 28, 2024

Buses and trains were cancelled in the Skane region on Thursday morning and authorities urged people to avoid unessential travel.

From BBC • Jan. 4, 2024

The company acknowledged that 2022 would be a more difficult year from the start and soaring inflation has made it even tougher as Americans take more items deemed unessential off their shopping lists.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 22, 2022

But all this part of it seemed remote and unessential.

From " The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald