unnecessary
Americanadjective
noun
plural
unnecessariesadjective
Other Word Forms
- unnecessarily adverb
- unnecessariness noun
Etymology
Origin of unnecessary
Explanation
Anything that is extra or not needed is unnecessary. Wearing long underwear in July is an unnecessary precaution against being cold. If you don't need something, it's unnecessary. You take an unnecessary risk if you get in the car and don't bother to fasten your seatbelt. Driving your car when you could ride a bike instead is an unnecessary use of gasoline. If you keep dropping you pen in class, your teacher might say, "That's unnecessary." Walking your dog with two leashes is definitely unnecessary. That's obvious, but lots of times it's hard to tell what's necessary and what's unnecessary.
Vocabulary lists containing unnecessary
List 3
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
List 9
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"New Michigan Graduation Requirements Shortchange Many Students"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Having only started in the role two weeks before security clearance was granted, Sir Olly said his predecessor had briefed him that Downing Street felt vetting "might be unnecessary" for someone of Mandelson's status.
From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026
It’s a move that feels unnecessary for a show that can still steer the conversation, not follow behind it.
From Salon • Apr. 19, 2026
“I felt like if I told her right off the bat it would cause unnecessary stress on both of us,” Gaull said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 19, 2026
She said an “open-ended strike is unnecessary and risks disruption for patients, students, and campus operations.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026
Dinner is almost ready, and I feel like the world’s most unnecessary tour guide as I show them around the living room.
From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
