indispensable

adjective

in·​dis·​pens·​able ˌin-di-ˈspen(t)-sə-bəl 

1

: absolutely necessary : essential

an indispensable member of the staff

2

: not subject to being set aside or neglected

an indispensable obligation

indispensability

ˌin-di-ˌspen(t)-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

indispensable noun

indispensableness

ˌin-di-ˈspen(t)-sə-bəl-nəs 

noun

indispensably

ˌin-di-ˈspen(t)-sə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms

• all-important
• critical
• essential
• imperative
• integral
• must-have
• necessary
• necessitous
• needed
• needful
• required
• requisite
• vital

Examples of indispensable in a Sentence

fully aware that he was an indispensable assistant, he decided that it was high time that he be paid what he was worth

Recent Examples on the Web

Deloitte’s Shaping the Path Forward offers some indispensable insights into the challenges likely to be encountered as part of this process. —Amanda Tickel, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025

Orwell: 2 + 2 = 5 is an urgent, indispensable film for our times. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 17 May 2025

Hailey Washington, a senior majoring in marketing at Drexel University in Philadelphia, isn't bullish about her job prospects despite stellar undergraduate performance and indispensable industry experience from an internship at a luxury fashion brand. —Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025

But as our indispensable editor at large, Mark Ellwood, found, transforming an uninhabited rock in the middle of the sea into a personal Eden can be as trying as attempting the seven summits—and a whole lot more expensive. —Julie Belcove, Robb Report, 3 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for indispensable

• compensable
• condensable
• defensible
• dispensable
• extensible
• insensible
• ostensible
• comprehensible
• indefensible
• reprehensible
• supersensible
• incomprehensible

Kids Definition

indispensable

adjective

in·​dis·​pens·​able ˌin-dis-ˈpen(t)-sə-bəl 

: absolutely necessary : essential

an indispensable employee

indispensability

-ˌpen(t)-sə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

Legal Definition

indispensable

adjective

in·​dis·​pen·​sa·​ble ˌin-di-ˈspen-sə-bəl 

: having rights so connected to the claims of the parties to an action that the action cannot be adjudicated without affecting those rights see also indispensable party at party