unnecessary

[uhn-nes-uh-ser-ee]

adjective

1. not necessary or essential; needless; unessential.

noun

plural

unnecessaries 

1. unnecessaries, things that are not necessary or essential.

unnecessary

/ ʌnˈnɛsɪsərɪ, -ɪsrɪ /

adjective

1. not necessary

Other Word Forms

• unnecessarily adverb
• unnecessariness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of unnecessary¹

First recorded in 1540–50; un- ¹ + necessary

Example Sentences

These intermediaries have created unnecessary complexity and costs, all while profiting from a monopolistic model that limits a company from communicating directly with its shareholders.

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Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke ruled the prosecutions were unnecessary and allowed both appeals, noting "less intrusive" measures of dealing with the case had not been pursued.

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The beauty of her transfer strategy is that it can accomplish nearly the same, and precisely because of the Education Department’s fatal flaw: it’s unnecessary.

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When technology can perform almost any mental task faster, and often better, waiting feels unnecessary.

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“This is an unnecessary, disruptive change that is going to harm students, especially the most vulnerable,” Thurmond said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• avoidable www.thesaurus.com
• futile 
• gratuitous 
• irrelevant 
• needless 
• redundant 
• superfluous 
• unneeded www.thesaurus.com
• useless 
• worthless