nonessential

[ non-uh-sen-shuhl ]
/ ˌnɒn əˈsɛn ʃəl /

adjective

not essential; not necessary: Nonessential use of gasoline was forbidden during the war.

noun

a nonessential thing or person.

Origin of nonessential

First recorded in 1745–55; non- + essential

Example sentences from the Web for nonessential

British Dictionary definitions for nonessential

nonessential
/ (ˌnɒnɪˈsɛnʃəl) /

adjective

not essential; not necessary
biochem (of an amino acid in a particular organism) able to be synthesized from other substances

noun

a nonessential person or thing

Medical definitions for nonessential

nonessential
[ nŏn′ĭ-sĕnshəl ]

adj.

Being a substance required for normal functioning but not needed in the diet because the body can synthesize it.