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

Advertisement The messaging app became indispensable as the temblor downed phone lines. —Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2023

The former problem grew worse when the Ravens lost their most indispensable defender, cornerback Marlon Humphrey, to a foot injury that required surgery. —Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 4 Sep. 2023

Organizations indispensable to the creation of media are cutting staff and services, and in some cases, even risk closing. —Carolyn Giardina, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Aug. 2023

Valuable but 'not indispensable' Legal experts said cooperation from the six is not necessary for the Justice Department to get a Trump conviction. —Josh Meyer, USA TODAY, 4 Aug. 2023

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the release is indispensable and could not be postponed. —Mari Yamaguchi, Anchorage Daily News, 24 Aug. 2023

Hawk's skateboarding prowess appeared to prove indispensable to the film's production. —Tommy McArdle, Peoplemag, 24 Aug. 2023

Indian officials have been advocating in favor of a multipolar world order in which New Delhi is seen as indispensable to global solutions. —Kenneth Chang, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2023

The best path forward requires leaning into decentralization to create a world where no one person or clique is indispensable, where an economy of diverse actors can work together to preserve stability and fairness for all. —Sheila Warren, Fortune Crypto, 12 Aug. 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