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
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List 9
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"New Michigan Graduation Requirements Shortchange Many Students"
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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.
She said an “open-ended strike is unnecessary and risks disruption for patients, students, and campus operations.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026
"We express regret to the North over the unnecessary military tensions caused by the irresponsible and reckless actions of some individuals."
From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026
The UConn legend is still trying to climb out after an unnecessary clash with South Carolina rival Dawn Staley.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026
A spokesperson for the operator denied that residents faced unnecessary obstacles in getting their money back.
From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026
“I am very good at manipulating fabric, but it seems so unnecessary given what Madame Padva can do.”
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
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.
