unnecessary
uhn-NEHS-uh-srih
Unnecessary (adjective) means not needed; more than is required. Example: “Please avoid unnecessary noise in the library while others are studying.”
adjective
1
Not needed; more than is required.
"Every possible economy was carefully investigated and unnecessary expense, however small, eliminated. The company had no money to spare on "frills.""
— 'Precursor', The Dursley & Midland Junction Railway (1956)
"Yet some of the statin side effects mentioned in the study have not been proved in the scientific literature or are exaggerated and could cause unnecessary worry, he said."
— Jacqueline Howard, Are statins overprescribed? Why the risks and benefits are so complex (2018)
"Please avoid unnecessary noise in the library while others are studying."
"The doctor said the surgery was unnecessary and recommended physical therapy instead."
"She packed three unnecessary suitcases for a two-day trip."
"The automatic child-frightener made clowns unnecessary."
How to use unnecessary
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot needed — something you could do without.
Common pairings
unnecessary risk
unnecessary delay
deem unnecessary
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more unnecessary
- Superlative
- most unnecessary
Fill the gap
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Please avoid _____ noise in the library while others are studying.
Etymology
From un- + necessary.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for unnecessary
See all rhymes for unnecessary →Frequently asked questions
What does “unnecessary” mean?
The word “unnecessary” means not needed; more than is required. In plain terms, not needed — something you could do without.
How do you pronounce “unnecessary”?
“Unnecessary” is pronounced uhn-NEHS-uh-srih (/ʌnˈnɛs.əˌsɛɹ.i/ in IPA).
How do you use “unnecessary” in a sentence?
Here is “unnecessary” used in a sentence: “The doctor said the surgery was unnecessary and recommended physical therapy instead.”
What is the opposite of “unnecessary”?
The opposite of “unnecessary” — its antonyms — are necessary, needed, required and mandatory.
What part of speech is “unnecessary”?
“Unnecessary” is an adjective.
Is “unnecessary” a common word?
“Unnecessary” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between unnecessary and needless?
Both unnecessary and needless describe something that is not required, but needless often carries a stronger sense of avoidable harm or waste, as in "needless suffering." Unnecessary is the more neutral, everyday choice for anything that is simply more than is required.
When should you use unnecessary instead of optional?
Use unnecessary when something is not needed at all, and optional when something is a genuine choice that may still be worthwhile. Calling a step unnecessary suggests it can be dropped without loss, whereas optional simply means it is not mandatory.
Is it correct to say 'not unnecessary'?
"Not unnecessary" is grammatically correct but is a double negative that means the same as "necessary," usually in a cautious or understated way. For clarity, most writers prefer to say something is necessary or needed rather than not unnecessary.
What is the difference between unnecessary and unnecessarily?
Unnecessary is an adjective that describes a thing, as in "an unnecessary delay," while unnecessarily is the adverb form that describes an action or degree, as in "the process was unnecessarily slow." Choose unnecessary before a noun and unnecessarily before a verb or another adjective.
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