Indispensable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Indispensable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is absolutely necessary or essential in a particular context. Example: "In today's fast-paced world, effective communication skills are indispensable for success in any career."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I watched movies and TV shows on it, and it was indispensable for fiddling around for boring hours on a plane.

The Guardian - Opinion

And yes, renewables are an indispensable part of the future energy mix.

The Guardian - Business

Real power is power too potent, too indispensable, to pause or freeze or postpone.

The Guardian

"In these times of uncertainty, where organised cross-border crime is sowing terror in our country, it is indispensable that all those who travel in our country carry their identity documents.

The Guardian

But it got where it is today by going from something people found occasionally useful to being something they found indispensable.

The Guardian

By this point in the 2010 campaign, the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg had become the star of the general election, because of her constant and indispensable reporting on the BBC News channel.

The Guardian

Good welfare services are indispensable for students, but across the country these are underfunded and oversubscribed.

The Guardian

In the years before Wikipedia, the paper's Notes & Queries column was an indispensable guide for the kind of people who now spend their evenings chasing links until they find they've wasted the last hour reading about the war of Jenkins Earr.

The Guardian - Opinion

In their indispensable new book A Quiet Word, Tamasin Cave and Andy Rowell explain why corporations want other people to front their campaigns.

The Guardian - Opinion

There are already exciting projects attempting to do this, like the UK Feminista summer school, the Everyday Sexism Project, Southall Black Sisters, or the indispensable work of the Fawcett Society.

The Guardian - Opinion

For Cameron, Poland is the indispensable ally, given its size, its political weight, and its number of seats.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "indispensable" to emphasize that something is absolutely necessary and cannot be omitted without causing significant problems. This word is suitable when describing essential components, skills, or resources.

Common error

Avoid using "indispensable" for things that are merely helpful or convenient. Reserve it for situations where the absence of something would genuinely impede progress or cause failure. Consider alternatives like "useful" or "helpful" in less critical contexts.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "indispensable" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe something that is absolutely necessary or essential. As Ludwig AI confirms, and as exemplified across numerous contexts, it denotes a critical requirement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "indispensable" is a versatile adjective used to denote something that is absolutely necessary. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its correctness and widespread use. Predominantly found in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for various writing styles. To enhance your writing, reserve "indispensable" for situations where the absence of something would cause significant issues, and avoid overuse by considering synonyms like "essential" or "crucial".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

absolutely essential

Emphasizes the necessity to an even greater degree.

utterly crucial

Highlights the critical importance of something.

completely necessary

Stresses the lack of alternatives.

vitally important

Focuses on the significant role something plays.

highly requisite

More formal, emphasizing a requirement.

cannot do without

Expresses dependency on something.

essential ingredient

Highlights the role of a key component.

critical component

Highlights the part of the component.

fundamental requirement

More formal and emphasizes the necessity as a base.

integral part

Emphasizes being an essential component.

FAQs

How can I use "indispensable" in a sentence?

Use "indispensable" to describe something or someone that is absolutely necessary or essential. For instance, "A good education is "indispensable" for success in today's competitive world."

What are some synonyms for "indispensable"?

Alternatives to "indispensable" include "essential", "crucial", "vital", or "necessary". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say something is 'very indispensable'?

While grammatically understandable, "very indispensable" is redundant. "Indispensable" already implies the highest degree of necessity. It's better to simply use ""indispensable"" or rephrase to emphasize the importance in another way.

What's the difference between "indispensable" and "important"?

"Important" signifies something of significance or value, whereas ""indispensable"" means something is absolutely necessary and cannot be done without. Something important may be helpful, but something indispensable is essential.