ENGLISH
REFERENCE

necessity

n.
US //nəˈsɛsəti// UK //nəsˈɛsɪti// ne·ces·si·ty
  1. 1 the state of being needed (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the fact that something must happen or be done.

    the quality or state of being unavoidable or absolutely requisite.

    Example

    The necessity of regular exercise for good health is well known.

    Example

    The sudden economic downturn highlighted the necessity of maintaining a robust emergency fund for unforeseen corporate expenses.
  2. 2 an essential item (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    something that you must have, such as food, water, or medicine.

    an indispensable item or requirement, especially for survival or a specific purpose.

    Example

    A warm coat is a necessity if you plan to visit the mountains in winter.

    Example

    In many remote regions, access to clean drinking water remains a basic necessity that is unfortunately not yet guaranteed for all residents.
Show 2 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 legal justification (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Formal Law

    a reason used in court to explain why someone broke a law to prevent something worse from happening.

    a defence in tort or criminal law justifying an otherwise illegal act on the grounds that it prevented a greater harm.

    Example

    The driver claimed necessity after speeding to get a critically injured person to the hospital.

    Example

    The court had to determine whether the defendant's actions met the strict legal criteria for a necessity defence during the emergency evacuation.

    Usage

    Often used as a legal defence in the phrase 'defence of necessity'.
  2. 4 poverty (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Literary Archaic

    a state of being very poor and not having the things you need.

    the condition of being in desperate need or experiencing extreme poverty.

    Example

    The family lived in great necessity after the factory closed down.

    Example

    The novel depicts the harsh realities of those driven to desperate measures by the sheer weight of necessity and social neglect.
Origin

From Middle English necessite, from Old French necessite, from Latin necessitās (“unavoidableness, compulsion, exigency, necessity”), from necesse (“unavoidable, inevitable”); see necessary. Doublet of Necessitas.

Idioms1 entry

© 2026 English Reference