minimal needs

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "minimal needs" is correct and commonly used in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to the basic necessities one needs in order to live, for example: "Most people living in the developing nation only have access to minimal needs, such as food, shelter, and medical care."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

If you've got very minimal needs you may be able to get the odd bit of help free and gratis.

The Guardian

For the French government now believes that "to hide the face breaches minimal needs of social life".

The New York Times

Food is a sensitive topic in a nation that depends on huge amounts of foreign food aid to meet the minimal needs of its 22 million people.

The New York Times

Money from two dress shops covers his minimal needs for reporting on the conflict, along with small subsidies from the European Union and one European country that he declines to identify.

The New York Times

"They could have done a cost analysis of at least what Saddam was selling to Syria," said Hans von Sponeck, a longtime United Nations diplomat who resigned as relief aid coordinator for Iraq in 1999, "and then ask Iraq for a credit to the oil-for-food program because there was never ever money enough for the minimal needs of the people".

The New York Times

Similar to the NMA allocator, the RA will thereby favor individuals with low minimal needs.

Health Economics Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

And because the streets are privately policed and maintained, there is minimal need for police, fire and snowplowing services.

The New York Times

For more than a century, the campus and its 111 buildings functioned with minimal need for the outside world, and many patients spent nearly their entire lives there.

The New York Times

The commission says the new structure would help slow the rapid increase in government childcare payments, now costing the federal government more than $7bn a year and it could be implemented without only "minimal" need for additional government funding.

The Guardian

Mind you, minimal needn't be drab or dull.

Forbes

Instrumented spinal fusion allows early ambulation with minimal need for a postoperative external immobilizer.

The Spine Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing resource allocation, use "minimal needs" to emphasize the importance of prioritizing essential requirements before considering non-essential items.

Common error

Avoid using "minimal needs" when referring to comfort or luxury items. The phrase should be reserved for truly basic requirements to prevent miscommunication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "minimal needs" functions as a noun phrase that describes the basic or essential requirements necessary for survival, operation, or function. It is commonly used to emphasize a focus on the most crucial elements. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "minimal needs" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe the most basic requirements for survival, operation, or function. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is used across a range of contexts, including science, news, and formal business settings. While alternatives such as "basic requirements" or "essential necessities" exist, "minimal needs" emphasizes the crucial and often reduced nature of these necessities. When using the phrase, it's essential to ensure that it refers to truly basic requirements to avoid misinterpretation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

basic requirements

Focuses on the fundamental aspects that are absolutely required.

essential necessities

Emphasizes items or services crucial for survival or well-being.

fundamental demands

Highlights the basic level of what is demanded or required.

bare minimum

Indicates the least possible requirements to satisfy a need.

basic provisions

Refers to the supply of essential resources or services.

core essentials

Highlights the most important and indispensable items or aspects.

indispensable requirements

Focuses on requirements that are absolutely necessary and cannot be done without.

irreducible needs

Emphasizes needs that cannot be further reduced or simplified.

subsistence level needs

Highlights needs that are just sufficient to maintain a basic standard of living.

primary necessities

Underscores the most important and fundamental necessities.

FAQs

How can I use "minimal needs" in a sentence?

You can use "minimal needs" to describe the basic requirements for survival or a specific task. For example, "The aid organization focused on providing the refugees with their "minimal needs", such as food and shelter."

What are some alternatives to "minimal needs"?

Alternatives to "minimal needs" include "basic requirements", "essential necessities", or "fundamental demands", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say 'minimum needs' instead of "minimal needs"?

While "minimum needs" and "minimal needs" can be used interchangeably, "minimal needs" often emphasizes a greater degree of reduction to the absolute essentials. Both are grammatically correct, but their connotations might vary slightly.

How does "minimal needs" differ from "basic needs"?

"Basic needs" generally refer to the fundamental requirements for survival and well-being, such as food, shelter, and healthcare. "Minimal needs" suggests a more restricted set of requirements, focusing on the absolute essentials necessary to sustain life or complete a task.