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

Example Sentences

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

Having a team that is competent and committed could prove to be indispensable at times of crisis when your whole company needs to search together for creative solutions to exogenous challenges. —Peter Abualzolof, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2023

Executives across industries may not agree on everything, but one consensus is that even in an economic downturn, cybersecurity is indispensable. —Bylucy Brewster, Fortune, 21 Feb. 2023

For someone with limited mobility, their Reyhee scooter or wheelchair may very well prove just as indispensable for literal accessibility as their iPhone’s discrete accessibility software. —Steven Aquino, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2023

The Malificient star has deepened her partnership with Guerlain and is using her platform and celebrity status to educate the youth on the indispensable role bees play in our ecosystem. —ELLE, 17 Feb. 2023

But times change, previously indispensable tech tools get shoved to the back of a desk drawer and shiny touch-screen communication devices now make their hardware-heavy predecessors seem as primitive as wheezing dial-up modems. —David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Feb. 2023

His pitch calls and glove placement help determine his teammates’ defensive alignment, and his knowledge of opposing hitters is an indispensable boon to his battery mate in pitch selection and location. —Bruce Weber, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2023

Your Place or Mine gets its limited but unmistakable oomph from the problem that Debbie and Peter are, in their current arrangement, really good for each other — as supportive and loving and indispensable friends, if not lovers. —K. Austin Collins, Rolling Stone, 10 Feb. 2023

Tokyo Electron is one of a handful of indispensable suppliers to the chipmaking industry, providing machinery to fabricate the latest generation of chips. —Takashi Mochizuki, Bloomberg.com, 9 Feb. 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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