nonessential
adjective
non·es·sen·tial
ˌnän-i-ˈsen(t)-shəl 
1
: not essential
2
: being a substance synthesized by the body in sufficient quantity to satisfy dietary needs
nonessential fatty acids
see also nonessential amino acid compare essential sense 2b
nonessential
noun
Synonyms
Examples of nonessential in a Sentence
All nonessential personnel had to be laid off.
Please avoid all nonessential uses of water.
Recent Examples on the Web
Saturday’s strike was called by the country’s largest group of doctors, the Indian Medical Assn., saying all nonessential services at hospitals would be shut down across the country for 24 hours.
—
Sheikh Saaliq, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2024
July 29, 2024 In the early days of the pandemic in 2020, traffic stops by the police plummeted around the country, as fewer cars were on the road and as agencies instructed officers to avoid nonessential contact with the public.
—Emily Badger, New York Times, 29 July 2024
Their experts recommend turning off all nonessential lighting between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. on nights when the birds are flying overhead.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 16 May 2024
The end result in the final generation was nonessential surrealist-sounding gibberish that had essentially nothing to do with the original text.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 25 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for nonessential 
Sheikh Saaliq, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2024
July 29, 2024 In the early days of the pandemic in 2020, traffic stops by the police plummeted around the country, as fewer cars were on the road and as agencies instructed officers to avoid nonessential contact with the public.
—Emily Badger, New York Times, 29 July 2024
Their experts recommend turning off all nonessential lighting between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. on nights when the birds are flying overhead.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 16 May 2024
The end result in the final generation was nonessential surrealist-sounding gibberish that had essentially nothing to do with the original text.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 25 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for nonessential
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nonessential.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near nonessential
Cite this Entry
“Nonessential.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonessential. Accessed 21 Aug. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nonessential
adjective
non·es·sen·tial
ˌnän-i-ˈsen-chəl
: not necessary or essential
nonessential
noun
Medical Definition
nonessential
adjective
non·es·sen·tial
-i-ˈsen-chəl
: being a substance synthesized by the body in sufficient quantity for normal health and growth
a nonessential fatty acid
compare essential
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