ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Indispensable

Definition, Meaning & Examples

Pronunciation /ˌɪndɪˈspɛnsəbəl/ · Part of speech adjective

Quick meaning: Indispensable is an adjective meaning Absolutely necessary or requisite; that one cannot do without.

Meaning

Absolutely necessary or requisite; that one cannot do without.

More Meanings

  1. (of duties, rules etc.) Unbendable, that cannot be set aside or ignored.
  2. A thing that is not dispensable; a necessity.
  3. (in the plural, colloquial, dated) Trousers.
  4. (ecclesiastical, obsolete) Not admitting ecclesiastical dispensation; not subject to release or exemption; that cannot be allowed by bending the canonical rules.

Example Sentences

The law was moral and indispensable.
An indispensable component of a heart-healthy diet.
Why is marking a book indispensable to reading it? First, it keeps you awake—not merely conscious, but wide awake.
And my friends in politics, no-one is remotely indispensable and our brilliant and Darwinian system will produce another leader, equally committed to taking this country forward through tough times.

Word Forms

Synonyms for indispensable

Depending on context, synonyms include critical, essential, necessary, obligatory, vital.

Antonyms for indispensable

Common opposites include dispensable.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include critical, essential, necessary, obligatory, vital, invaluable.

Related Dictionary Tools

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.