unnecessary

adjective

un·​nec·​es·​sary ˌən-ˈne-sə-ˌser-ē 

: not necessary

took unnecessary precautions

Synonyms of unnecessary

• extra
• optional
• needless
• irrelevant
• nonessential
• unwarranted
• redundant
• dispensable

Examples of unnecessary in a Sentence

In this city, owning a car is unnecessary.

Let's not take any unnecessary risks.

Recent Examples on the Web

Follow pre-decided processes to avoid misunderstandings and unnecessary emotional labor. —Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Mar. 2026

Each side said the edits only removed unnecessary portions and did not change the events shown. —Amelia Mugavero, CBS News, 25 Mar. 2026

The effort would assess state departments and gather feedback from public employees to identify inefficiencies and reduce unnecessary spending. —Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 25 Mar. 2026

The emphasis is on making each marketing dollar more productive by focusing on committed, high-intent prospects rather than defaulting to broad-reach strategies that may generate unnecessary waste. —Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unnecessary

• accretionary
• apothecary
• bicentenary
• certiorari
• concessionary
• concretionary
• confectionary
• confectionery
• constabulary
• contemporary
• deflationary
• depositary

Kids Definition

unnecessary

adjective

un·​nec·​es·​sary ˌən-ˈnes-ə-ˌser-ē 

ˈən-

: not necessary