indispensable

[ in-di-spen-suh-buhl ]
/ ˌɪn dɪˈspɛn sə bəl /

adjective

absolutely necessary, essential, or requisite: an indispensable member of the staff.
incapable of being disregarded or neglected: an indispensable obligation.

noun

a person or thing that is indispensable.

Origin of indispensable

First recorded in 1525–35, indispensable is from the Medieval Latin word indispēnsābilis not subject to dispensation. See in-3, dispensable

OTHER WORDS FROM indispensable

in·dis·pen·sa·bil·i·ty, in·dis·pen·sa·ble·ness, noun in·dis·pen·sa·bly, adverb

Example sentences from the Web for indispensable

British Dictionary definitions for indispensable

indispensable
/ (ˌɪndɪˈspɛnsəbəl) /

adjective

absolutely necessary; essential
not to be disregarded or escaped an indispensable role

noun

an indispensable person or thing

Derived forms of indispensable

indispensability or indispensableness, noun indispensably, adverb