What does essential mean Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/ˈɛsɛnʃəl/

Part of Speech

Adjective

Definition

Necessary or indispensable for something to exist or function; vital or required

Examples

The Oxygen in the air is essential for human survival.
The new policy requires an essential skill, such as coding.

Synonyms

Indispensable
Vital
Necessary

Antonyms

Disposable
Unimportant
Minor

Additional Information

Essential refers to something that is crucial or imperative for a particular purpose or function. It can be used to describe essential skills, essential tasks, or essential components. Understanding what is essential can help individuals prioritize tasks, focus on what is important, and achieve their goals.

In some cases, essential may also refer to something that is fundamental or inherent to a particular concept or idea. In this sense, essential helps to establish a foundation or basis for further understanding or exploration.

Etymology

From Latin “essentialis,” meaning “of or belonging to the essential or true nature of something”

Usage Notes

Essential is often used in formal or technical contexts, such as medicine, law, or business. However, it can also be used in everyday conversation to emphasize the importance of something.

Cultural References

Essential has been used in various cultural references, including films, literature, and music. For example, in the film “The Matrix” (1999), the character Morpheus explains that the Matrix is an essential part of humanity’s reality.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

“The essential thing is…”, “This is essential”, “Essential learning”

Related Words or Phrases

Indispensable, vital, necessary, crucial, fundamental, inherent

Collocations

Essential skills, essential tasks, essential components, essential knowledge, essential reading

Frequency of Use

Essential is a commonly used word in both formal and informal contexts, with a moderate frequency of use in everyday language.

Common Misspellings

essensial, essentail, essentiel, essentiel