unnecessary

Everyday

1. Not needed; you could do without it and nothing would go wrong. tree →
2. More than is needed or fair, as in unnecessary cruelty or unnecessary noise. tree →

In the lessons

In maths problems it marks extra information you do not need to answer the question, so you can ignore it. In everyday life and safety it warns against taking risks or wasting things for no reason. Phrases: «unnecessary risk», «unnecessary fuss», «it is unnecessary to …», «completely unnecessary».

Examples

• It is unnecessary to bring a coat; it is sunny today. tree →
• Cross out the unnecessary numbers in the word problem. tree →
• Don't take unnecessary risks near the river. tree →
• That was a totally unnecessary comment, Liam. tree →
• Running the tap while you brush your teeth wastes unnecessary water. tree →
• The teacher said a calculator was unnecessary for this test. tree →
• Please avoid unnecessary noise in the library. tree →

Note

Spelling trap: one c and double s — un-ne-ces-sa-ry. Opposite: necessary, needed. Not countable; it describes a noun. In word problems, «unnecessary information» means a number that does not change the answer.