necessity

Everyday

1. Something that you need and cannot do without: water is a necessity. tree →
2. The fact of being needed: the necessity of sleep. tree →
3. (formal) A situation that forces you to do something: out of necessity. tree →
4. necessities (plural): the basic things needed to live, such as food and shelter. tree →

In the lessons

In geography and life lessons, pupils learn the difference between needs (necessities) and wants (luxuries). In stories, characters act «out of necessity». Saying: «Necessity is the mother of invention» means people invent things when they really need them. Phrases: a basic necessity, out of necessity, of necessity (formal).

Examples

• Food, water and shelter are basic necessities. tree →
• A coat is a necessity in a Canadian winter. tree →
• Is a phone a necessity or a luxury? tree →
• They walked to school out of necessity because the bus broke down. tree →
• Necessity is the mother of invention. tree →
• Sleep is a necessity, not a choice. tree →
• We packed only the necessities for camping. tree →
• I only made up my mind to do it out of necessity. tree →

Note

Countable: necessities (y to ies). Spelling trap: one c, double s: neCeSSity. Adjective: necessary (also one c, double s). Opposite: luxury.