unnecessary

English

Etymology

un- +‎ necessary

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ʌnˈnɛ.sə.s(ə)ɹɪ /, /ʌnˈnɛ.səˌsɛ.ɹɪ/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ʌnˈnɛ.səˌsɛ.ɹi/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -æri
• (UK, US, nonstandard) IPA^(key): /ʌnˈnɛs.ə.ɹɪ/

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Adjective

unnecessary (comparative more unnecessary, superlative most unnecessary)

1. Not needed or necessary.

   The automatic child-frightener made clowns unnecessary.

   • 2011 December 14, Steven Morris, “Devon woman jailed for 168 days for killing kitten in microwave”, in Guardian‎^[1]:

     Robins, of Torquay, had denied a single charge of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. She claimed the microwave was accidentally turned on by one of the cats after the kitten got inside. But Knutton said the kitten was too small to even get onto the work surface.

   • Need definition

     A requirement for something; something needed. (1 of 2 need definitions)
2. Done in addition to requirements; unrequired.

   • Requirement definition

     A necessity or prerequisite; something required or obligatory. Its adpositions are generally of in relation to who or what has given it, on in relation to whom or what it is given to, and for in relation to what is required. (1 of 3 requirement definitions)

   • Unrequired definition

     Not required.

Synonyms

• (not needed): superfluous, unneeded, needless, innecessary
• (in addition to requirements): additional, innecessary

Antonyms

• (not needed): necessary, needed
• (in addition to requirements): required, mandatory

Derived terms

Translations