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| Date: | 1300-1400 |
| Language: | French |
| Origin: | necessité, from Latin necessitas, from necesse; NECESSARY |
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ne‧ces‧si‧ty
plural necessities
plural necessities1 [countable] something that you need to have in order to live [≠ luxury]: 
She saw books as a necessity, not a luxury.
She saw books as a necessity, not a luxury. the basic/bare necessities A lot of families cannot even afford to buy the basic necessities of life.
A lot of families cannot even afford to buy the basic necessities of life.2 [uncountable] when something is necessary
the necessity of (doing) something This illustrates the necessity of keeping accurate records of your work. Many teachers are now questioning the necessity of formal exams.
This illustrates the necessity of keeping accurate records of your work.Many teachers are now questioning the necessity of formal exams.3 [countable] something that must happen, even if it is unpleasant : Taxes are a regrettable necessity.
Taxes are a regrettable necessity.4 used when something happens in a particular way because that is the only possible way it can happen : Many of the jobs are, of necessity, temporary.
of necessity
formalMany of the jobs are, of necessity, temporary.5 used to say that if someone really needs to do something, they will find a way of doing it
