The difference between Necessary and Unnecessary

When used as adjectives, necessary means required, essential, whether logically inescapable or needed in order to achieve a desired result or avoid some penalty, whereas unnecessary means not needed or necessary.


Necessary is also noun with the meaning: a place to do the "necessary" business of urination and defecation: an outhouse or lavatory.

check bellow for the other definitions of Necessary and Unnecessary

  1. Necessary as an adjective:

    Required, essential, whether logically inescapable or needed in order to achieve a desired result or avoid some penalty.

    Examples:

    "Although I wished to think that all was false, it was yet [[necessary]] that that I, who thus thought, must in some sense exist."

    "It is absolutely [[necessary]] that you call and confirm your appointment."

  2. Necessary as an adjective:

    Unavoidable, inevitable.

    Examples:

    "If it is absolutely [[necessary]] to use public computers, you should plan ahead and forward your e-mail to a temporary, disposable account."

  3. Necessary as an adjective (obsolete):

    Determined, involuntary: acting from compulsion rather than free will.

  1. Necessary as a noun (UK, archaic, _, euphemism, usually with the definite article):

    A place to do the "necessary" business of urination and defecation: an outhouse or lavatory.

  1. Unnecessary as an adjective:

    Not needed or necessary.

    Examples:

    "The automatic child-frightener made clowns unnecessary."

  2. Unnecessary as an adjective:

    Done in addition to requirements; unrequired.