adjective

indispensable

/ˌɪndɪˈspensəbəl/ · say it: in·dih·SPEN·suh·buhl

absolutely necessary

In Sophisticated Everyday

In more detail

1. (adjective) absolutely necessary; something you cannot do without

2. (adjective) (of a person) so important or useful that they cannot be replaced

Examples

1. Water is indispensable for human survival.
2. She became indispensable to the team because of her skills and hard work.

How to use indispensable

Indispensable expresses something that is absolutely necessary and cannot be done without—stronger than merely 'useful' or 'helpful'. It applies to both things (clean water is indispensable to life) and people (she has become indispensable to the team). It is more formal than 'essential' and carries a tone of categorical necessity.

Common phrases

indispensable to
indispensable for
absolutely indispensable
become indispensable
prove indispensable

Synonyms

essential · vital · necessary · crucial · required

Opposites

dispensable · unnecessary · optional

Word family

indispensability (noun) · indispensably (adverb)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse 'indispensable' with 'dispensable' (its antonym); remember it contains 'in-' meaning 'not', so something indispensable cannot be dispensed with.

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