essential meaning and definition

ESSENTIAL noun

Definition of essential (noun)

1. anything indispensable
   • "food and shelter are necessities of life"; "the essentials of the good life"; "allow farmers to buy their requirements under favorable conditions"; "a place where the requisites of water fuel and fodder can be obtained"
   • synonyms: necessary, necessity, requirement, requisite
   • antonym: inessential

ESSENTIAL adjective

Definition of essential (adjective)

1. absolutely necessary; vitally necessary
   • "essential tools and materials"; "funds essential to the completion of the project"; "an indispensable worker"
   • synonyms: indispensable
2. basic and fundamental
   • "the essential feature"
   • antonym: inessential
3. of the greatest importance
   • "the all-important subject of disarmament"; "crucial information"; "in chess cool nerves are of the essence"
   • synonyms: all important, all-important, crucial, of the essence
4. being or relating to or containing the essence of a plant etc
   • "essential oil"
5. defining rights and duties as opposed to giving the rules by which rights and duties are established
   • "substantive law"
   • synonyms: substantive
   • antonym: adjective