necessity

noun
UK: /nəˈses.ə.ti/
US: /nəˈses.ə.ti/

  1. The need for something.

    1. Water is a necessity for life.
    2. Getting a driver's license was a necessity before I could get to work.

  2. Something you must have.

    1. Food is a basic necessity of life.
    2. Nowadays, a mobile phone is a necessity for most people in many countries.

  3. A situation that forces you to do something.

    1. Necessity is the mother of invention.
    2. The necessity of earning a living forced her to take any job she could find.

Synonyms

requirement need essential compulsion

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "necessity" in English means: The need for something., Something you must have., A situation that forces you to do something..

The phonetic transcription of "necessity" is /nəˈses.ə.ti/ in British English and /nəˈses.ə.ti/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "necessity": requirement, need, essential, compulsion.

Example usage of "necessity": "Water is a necessity for life.". More examples on the page.