Added 9 October 2026
essential
/ɪˈsɛn.ʃəl/ noun
Latin root: essentiālis Wiktionary
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about essential at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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Anything indispensable.
food and shelter are necessities of life
adjective
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Absolutely necessary; vitally necessary.
essential tools and materials
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Basic and fundamental.
the essential feature
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Of the greatest importance.
the all-important subject of disarmament
Origin
From Late Latin essentiālis, from Latin essentia (“being, essence”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)