indispensable

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'indispensable' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that is absolutely essential or absolutely necessary, such as: "His contribution to the project was indispensable and without him, it would not have been possible to complete it on time."

✓ 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

When emphasizing the critical nature of a component or element, consider using "indispensable" to convey that its absence would render the whole ineffective or unachievable.

Common error

Avoid using "indispensable" when "necessary" or "helpful" would suffice. "Indispensable" should be reserved for situations where something is absolutely essential, not merely convenient or desirable.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "indispensable" primarily functions to modify nouns, indicating that the noun it describes is absolutely essential or necessary. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and appropriate usage across various contexts.

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 an adjective used to describe something that is absolutely essential or necessary. Ludwig AI confirms that its grammatically correct and is commonly used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Scientific domains. While it's a powerful word, remember to reserve its use for situations where something truly cannot be done without, avoiding overuse in simpler contexts where "necessary" or "helpful" would suffice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

absolutely necessary

This alternative directly expresses the concept of necessity without which the desired result would not be possible.

essential

A common synonym that emphasizes the fundamental importance of something.

crucial

Highlights the importance of something in determining the outcome of a situation.

vital

Emphasizes that something is essential for the existence, continuance, or well-being of something.

requisite

Indicates something is required by circumstances or regulations.

a must-have

This more informal phrase suggests something is highly desirable and practically essential.

irreplaceable

This highlights the unique value of something, implying it cannot be substituted.

integral

Highlights something is an essential part of a complete whole.

critical

Like “crucial”, it describes something that is important in determining what happens

needed

It's a common synonym for something required in specific circumstances.

FAQs

How can I use "indispensable" in a sentence?

You can use "indispensable" to describe something so crucial that it cannot be done without, such as "A good map is "essential" and nearly "a must-have" for this trip, making it virtually "indispensable".

What can I say instead of "indispensable"?

You can use alternatives like ""essential"", "absolutely necessary", or "crucial" depending on the context.

Which is correct: "indispensable" or "indispensible"?

"Indispensable" is the correct spelling. "Indispensible" is a misspelling and should be avoided.

What is the difference between "indispensable" and "important"?

"Important" signifies something of significance, whereas "indispensable" suggests something is so vital that it cannot be done without. Something can be important without being absolutely necessary.