Essential meaning

What does “essential” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“essential” is a noun and adjective with 6 meanings. Its most common meaning is: anything indispensable.

essential

anything indispensable
“food and shelter are necessities of life”
“the essentials of the good life”
Synonymsnecessity requirement requisite necessary
Oppositesinessential

absolutely necessary; vitally necessary
“essential tools and materials”
“funds essential to the completion of the project”
Synonymsindispensable
basic and fundamental
“the essential feature”
Oppositesinessential
of the greatest importance
“the all-important subject of disarmament”
“crucial information”
Synonymsall-important all important crucial of the essence
being or relating to or containing the essence of a plant etc
“essential oil”
defining rights and duties as opposed to giving the rules by which rights and duties are established
“substantive law”
Synonymssubstantive

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University