indispensable
/ˌɪndɪˈspɛnsəbəl/ adjective, noun
Forms indispensables
- adjective Absolutely necessary or requisite; that one cannot do without. “An indispensable component of a heart-healthy diet.”
- adjective (of duties, rules etc.) Unbendable, that cannot be set aside or ignored.
- adjective (ecclesiastical, obsolete) Not admitting ecclesiastical dispensation; not subject to release or exemption; that cannot be allowed by bending the canonical rules.
- noun A thing that is not dispensable; a necessity.
- noun (in the plural, colloquial, dated) Trousers.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French indispensable, from Medieval Latin indispensābilis, corresponding to in- + dispensable.
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Not dispensable; impossible to be omitted, remitted, or spared; absolutely necessary or requisite.
- adjective Not admitting dispensation; not subject to release or exemption. [R.]
Etymology [Pref. in- not + dispensable: cf. F. indispensable.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “indispensable”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details