necessity

noun ne·ces·si·ty \ ni-ˈse-sə-tē , -ˈse-stē \

|Updated on: 17 Jul 2018

Examples: necessity in a Sentence

Definition of necessity

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

submittimg 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.

— of necessity

: in such a way that it cannot be otherwise; also : as a necessary consequence

further changes will occur of necessity

See necessity defined for English-language learners

See necessity defined for kids

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 of necessity from the Web

Germany takes the opposite tack, seeing Balkan expansion as a strategic necessity.

— The Economist, "The obstacles on Macedonia’s road to the EU," 28 June 2018
Black suffrage was seen as a political failure; the system of Jim Crow segregation that followed was justified as a political necessity.

— harrison smith, latimes.com, "Willie Lee Rose, influential historian of slavery and Reconstruction, dies at 91," 27 June 2018
The Chinese Exclusion Act was repealed as a political necessity during World War II.

— laila lalami, New York Times, "Does American ‘Tribalism’ End in a Compromise, or a Fight?," 26 June 2018
Black suffrage was seen as a political failure; the system of Jim Crow segregation that followed was justified as a political necessity.

— harrison smith, Washington Post, "Willie Lee Rose, influential historian of slavery and Reconstruction, dies at 91," 26 June 2018
And part of the doubting settles, specifically, on questions of authorship—of news not just as a democratic necessity, but also as a product of people, weary and errant.

— megan garber, The Atlantic, "The Fourth Estate in the Age of Bad Faith," 15 June 2018
No other media assets are as attractive as Fox’s and both companies see them as a necessity to compete globally with Netflix in the new-media world.

— elizabeth winkler, WSJ, "Bidding for Fox Will Get Serious After Court Ruling," 10 June 2018
Of course, thinking of things as necessities doesn’t just apply to big-ticket budget categories like rent.

— NBC News, "Want to spend less and save more money? Redefine this one word," 30 May 2018
Rominger views a college education as a necessity, not a luxury.

— erika rose, Post-Tribune, "Loyal IU Northwest business school friends set students up for success," 15 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'necessity.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of necessity

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

necessity Synonyms

NECESSITY Defined for English Language Learners

necessity

noun

Definition of necessity for English Language Learners

: something that you must have or do : something that is necessary
: the quality of being necessary

NECESSITY Defined for Kids

necessity

noun ne·ces·si·ty \ ni-ˈse-sə-tē \

Definition of necessity for Students

plural necessities

1 : the state of things that forces certain actions

The necessity of eating forced her to work.

2 : very great need

Call us for help in case of necessity.

3 : the state of being in need : poverty

I am forced by necessity to beg.

4 : something that is badly needed

He bought a few necessities before his trip.

Law Dictionary

necessity

noun ne·ces·si·ty

legal Definition of necessity

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 2a — compare duress, undue influence

2 : something that is necessary especially to subsistence