necessity

noun

ne·​ces·​si·​ty ni-ˈse-sə-tē 

-ˈse-stē

plural necessities

1

: the quality or state of being necessary

He questioned the necessity for the change.

2

a

: pressure of circumstance

The plane was compelled by necessity to change its course.

b

: physical or moral compulsion

did it, not because he wanted to, but by necessity

c

: impossibility of a contrary order or condition

submitting to the necessity imposed by the physical laws of the universe

3

: the quality or state of being in need

especially : poverty

had come to help them in their necessity

4

a

: something that is necessary : requirement

Many families could not afford the bare necessities of life.

b

: an urgent need or desire

When his father collapsed, an ambulance became a necessity.

see also:

make a virtue of necessity of necessity

Synonyms of necessity

• requirement
• must

Examples of necessity in a Sentence

Sunscreen is an absolute necessity for the beach.

food, clothes, and other basic necessities

Getting plenty of rest is a necessity.

Without a car, living close to work is a necessity.

All we took with us on our hiking trip were the bare necessities.

Recent Examples on the Web

By arguing for the necessity of the chains of deportation today, Vance makes an eerily similar case. — Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026

Often, smugglers are only engaged in the industry out of financial necessity or coercion. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 Oct. 2026

Families are working hard, but housing, healthcare, childcare, groceries, and other necessities take too much of their paychecks. — Josh Bergeron, Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2026

According to a new Guardian poll, 95 percent of Americans think that the United States is in the midst of an affordability crisis with many reporting trouble affording necessities like gas and groceries. — Lorie Konish, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English necessite, from Anglo-French necessité, from Latin necessitat-, necessitas, from necesse

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing necessity

• born of necessity
• by necessity
• make a virtue of necessity
• make a virtue out of necessity
• necessity is the mother of invention
• necessity of life
• of necessity
• out of necessity

Kids Definition

necessity

noun

ne·​ces·​si·​ty ni-ˈses-ət-ē 

-ˈses-tē

plural necessities

1

: conditions that cannot be changed

forced by necessity

2

: the quality or state of being in need : poverty

3

a

: something that is necessary : requirement

the necessities for camping in comfort

b

: an urgent need or desire

call in case of necessity

Legal Definition

necessity

noun

ne·​ces·​si·​ty

plural necessities

1

a

: the presence or pressure of circumstances that justify or compel a certain course of action

especially : a need to respond or react to a dangerous situation by committing a criminal act

b

: an affirmative defense originating in common law that the defendant had to commit a criminal act because of the pressure of a situation that threatened a harm greater than that resulting from the act see also choice of evils defense at defense sense 2a compare duress, undue influence

2

: something that is necessary especially to subsistence

obligated to provide the necessities of food, clothing, and shelter