/ nəˈsesəti; NAmE / noun
1.
[ U ] necessity (for sth) | necessity (of sth / of doing sth) | necessity (to do sth) the fact that sth must happen or be done; the need for sth :
We recognize the necessity for a written agreement.
We were discussing the necessity of employing more staff.
There had never been any necessity for her to go out to work.
This is, of necessity , a brief and incomplete account.
2.
[ C ] a thing that you must have and cannot manage without :
Many people cannot even afford basic necessities such as food and clothing.
Air-conditioning is an absolute necessity in this climate.
3.
[ C , usually sing. ] a situation that must happen and that cannot be avoided :
Living in London, he felt, was an unfortunate necessity.
•
IDIOMS
- necessity is the mother of invention
—more at virtue
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French necessite , from Latin necessitas , from necesse be needful.