Words / A2

un-NES-uh-s-uh-ree/ʌnˈnesəsəri/

Unnecessary means not needed: unnecessary worry, completely unnecessary, an unnecessary extra. Necessary is the opposite. Useless means it does not work; unnecessary means you do not need it even if it works. Extra can be a cousin. Do not write unnecessary when you mean necessarily (adverb of necessary).

Meaning

Not needed; more than is useful.

Examples

• “A taxi is unnecessary — the station is five minutes away.”
• “A coat is unnecessary in this heat.”
• “The long introduction felt unnecessary in a short email.”

Good to know

unnecessary worry / completely unnecessary. Opposite: necessary. Contrast: useless. Mix-up: necessarily.

New