sine qua non

noun

si·​ne qua non ˌsi-ni-ˌkwä-ˈnän How to pronounce sine qua non (audio) -ˈnōn How to pronounce sine qua non (audio)
 also  ˌsē-;
 also  ˌsī-ni-ˌkwā-ˈnän
plural sine qua nons also sine quibus non -ˌkwi-(ˌ)bu̇s- How to pronounce sine qua non (audio)
 also  -ˌkwī-
: something absolutely indispensable or essential
reliability is a sine qua non for success

Did you know?

Sine qua non can be translated literally as "Without which, not." Though this may sound like gibberish, it means more or less "Without (something), (something else) won't be possible." Sine qua non sounds slightly literary, and it shouldn't be used just anywhere. But it actually shows up in many contexts, including business ("A solid customer base is the sine qua non to success"), show business ("A good agent is a sine qua non for an actor's career"), and politics ("His support was really the sine qua non for her candidacy").

Examples of sine qua non in a Sentence

Patience is a sine qua non for this job. an extensive grounding in mathematics is a sine qua non for a career in architecture
Recent Examples on the Web Goleman underscored its importance, noting that while IQ and technical skills are crucial, emotional intelligence is the sine qua non of leadership. Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024 For those actors who consider crying to be the sine qua non of their art, a sorrowful biography offers a distinct advantage in the Method acting sweepstakes. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2024 And yet, Papà said, the Congolese were the essential ingredient, the sine qua non, of arguably the most consequential creation in modern history. Ngofeen Mputubwele, WIRED, 21 Aug. 2023 And as far as the president is concerned, this is the sine qua non of a lasting peace in the region. CBS News, 26 Nov. 2023 From sine qua non of American psychedelia, to folk-rock deity, jam band progenitor, disco Dead and Top 40 sensation, there was seemingly no pivot the band couldn’t navigate in its 30 years. Erin Osmon, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2023 As research makes clear, substantial flexibility is the sine qua non for employee engagement. Gleb Tsipursky, Fortune, 25 Sep. 2023 The research team determined that the finger holes had been made with a flint tool so precise that the holes could be sealed with a fingertip, the sine qua non of wind instruments. Franz Lidz, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2023 Oil is literally the basis of globalization, the sine qua non of human physical interaction. Jude Clemente, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sine qua non.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin, without which not

First Known Use

1602, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sine qua non was in 1602

Dictionary Entries Near sine qua non

Cite this Entry

“Sine qua non.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sine%20qua%20non. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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