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
All nonessential federal and Indianapolis city government offices are closed Wednesday, June 19, for the holiday, but Indiana offices will be open.
—
Katie Wiseman, The Courier-Journal, 19 June 2024
Over the weekend, Haiti's Prime Minister Ariel Henry agreed to resign after heavily armed gangs made brazen attacks on police and military installations in the capital city of Port-au-Prince and the U.S. military airlifted nonessential personnel from the American Embassy.
—Lauren Villagran, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2024
The United States and other democracies have become dependent on China for essential and nonessential goods.
—Ganesh Sitaraman, Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2020
Meanwhile, nonessential exterior lights were switched off, and the doors to outdoor areas were sealed after sundown, in an effort to fend off swarms of insects — something that’s rarely a consideration at sea.
—Marcia Desanctis, Travel + Leisure, 19 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for nonessential 
Katie Wiseman, The Courier-Journal, 19 June 2024
Over the weekend, Haiti's Prime Minister Ariel Henry agreed to resign after heavily armed gangs made brazen attacks on police and military installations in the capital city of Port-au-Prince and the U.S. military airlifted nonessential personnel from the American Embassy.
—Lauren Villagran, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2024
The United States and other democracies have become dependent on China for essential and nonessential goods.
—Ganesh Sitaraman, Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2020
Meanwhile, nonessential exterior lights were switched off, and the doors to outdoor areas were sealed after sundown, in an effort to fend off swarms of insects — something that’s rarely a consideration at sea.
—Marcia Desanctis, Travel + Leisure, 19 June 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 15 Jul. 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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