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

Although some argue that popular visa programs such as H-1B allow employers to substitute cheaper foreign engineers and computer scientists for American workers, others say being able to recruit talent from around the world is indispensable for their growth. —Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024

Getting To Modern Digital Identity In its early days as networks coalesced, email systems advanced and the internet took shape, AD emerged as an indispensable and widely used enterprise tool. —Eric Olden, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

The world of high-profile true crime cases showcases the indispensable role of criminal profiling, a tool that illuminates the darkest corners of human behavior and steers the course of justice toward resolution. —Callie Cassick, Fox News, 28 Mar. 2024

In engineering roles, Indeed found, having gone to college is essentially indispensable, while fewer than 1% of more manual job listings (such as for sanitation roles, food preparation, and trucking) require degrees. —Jane Thier, Fortune, 27 Feb. 2024

Historical context is indispensable, but Trumpism is not mere history. —Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2024

This reference contract language can be indispensable to agencies negotiating with AI vendors. —Gisele Waters, IEEE Spectrum, 26 Mar. 2024

Transitioning from a tax preparer to a CPA involves surmounting hurdles, especially in conquering the REG section of the CPA exam, where extensive study and a robust review course are indispensable, regardless of one’s background in tax strategy. —Bryce Welker, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024

From biotech startups that are generating new proteins and chemicals to OpenAI’s new generative AI text-to-video system called Sora, Nvidia’s AI tokens are indispensable for the modern tech world. —Will Daniel, Fortune, 22 Feb. 2024

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