unnecessary

American  

[uhn-nes-uh-ser-ee] / ʌnˈnɛs əˌsɛr i /

adjective

1. not necessary or essential; needless; unessential.

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noun

plural

unnecessaries

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

unnecessary British  

/ ʌnˈnɛsɪsərɪ, -ɪsrɪ /

adjective

1. not necessary

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Other Word Forms

• unnecessarily adverb
• unnecessariness noun

Etymology

Origin of unnecessary

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

Example Sentences

She previously told the BBC putting gift cards behind the counter would add "unnecessary friction" and could lead to a 30% drop in sales, based on industry experience.

From BBC

I try to clear any unnecessary apps or media from iPhone or Android settings to avoid backup bloat.

From The Wall Street Journal

Leaving a phone plugged in for eight or more hours while you sleep is an unnecessary risk, according to Ms Fleming.

From BBC

State Rep. Jordan Teuscher, who sponsored the reforms, said that while they remain “good policy,” the debate had been “overshadowed by misinformation and unnecessary division.”

From The Wall Street Journal

But opponents of the ban said it was "diverting police from serious crime and placing unnecessary strain on social services".

From BBC

Related Words

• avoidable
• futile
• gratuitous
• irrelevant
• needless
• redundant
• superfluous
• unneeded
• useless
• worthless