What does unnecessary mean?
Word: Unnecessary
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Unnecessary means not needed, or more than is needed.
Synonyms: needless, pointless
Antonyms: necessary, needed
How do you spell unnecessary?
Syllables: un - nec - es - sar - y
Tricky part: The middle is where slips happen: necessary has one c but a double s.
Watch out for: unnecesary, unneccessary, unnessesary
Memory tip: Necessary has one collar and two sleeves: one c and two s's.
Unnecessary in a sentence
Example 1: Carrying three water bottles on a short walk is unnecessary.
Example 2: Please switch off unnecessary lights when you leave the room.
Example 3: The teacher crossed out the unnecessary words in my essay.
Fun Fact
Necessary comes from the Latin necesse, unavoidable. It is thought to be built from ne, not, and cedere, to give way: something that will not give way.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to form a word:
unnecess_r_
a) e, i
b) a, i
c) a, y
d) e, y
Show answer
c) a, y. The ending is ary, as in dictionary and library.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) unecessary
b) address
c) occasion
d) embarrass
Show answer
a) unecessary. Un and necessary each bring an n, so two n's are needed.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word:
unnecessary
a) harmless
b) essential
c) careless
d) endless
Show answer
b) essential. Something essential is truly needed, the opposite of unnecessary.
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
arusncynees
a) unnecessary
b) unnecessarily
c) necessity
d) necessary
Show answer
a) unnecessary. Necessary is missing un, unnecessarily ends in ily, and necessity has an i and a t.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. On a hot, sunny day in Delhi, what would be unnecessary to carry?
a) a cotton cap
b) a water bottle
c) a thick woollen coat
d) some sunscreen
Show answer
c) a thick woollen coat
2. A library sign asks pupils to avoid unnecessary noise. Which noise is unnecessary there?
a) pages turning as you read
b) the librarian stamping a book
c) the fan humming overhead
d) chatting loudly with a friend
Show answer
d) chatting loudly with a friend
