ultimate necessity

USAGE SUMMARY

"ultimate necessity" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that is absolutely necessary or essential. For example, "Having access to clean water is an ultimate necessity for every person."

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Although looking for such carbons is a good way to start a search for enantiomers, there is no way to avoid the ultimate necessity of writing out the mirror image and checking for superimposability.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

If President Obama wants to do the nation a service, he should emphasize these ultimate necessities, rather than advising governors to avoid using the "ration" word.

The New York Times

Plan a transcendental trip to a cabin, ski resort or tropical paradise with only your ultimate necessities.

Huffington Post

The governor said, however, that he agreed on the necessity for the ultimate winner and ultimate loser to come together in the national interest.

The New York Times

But it may seem to some viewers that Molly's lessons in the necessity of the ultimate sacrifice are meant to persuade young viewers to see the current war in Iraq as equally noble.

The New York Times - Arts

While undoubtedly elegant when viewed in the countless plans and renderings that of necessity preceded the ultimate realization of the design, this series of circular repetitions does not well serve the story being told.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

For Nishida this relation would not be settled by invoking the notion of an infinite regress; rather it indicates the necessity of an ultimate context of a different order, one that allows the distinction between a specific text and its context.

SEP

In any discussion regarding the necessity for CAD, the ultimate goals of a screening programme must be taken into consideration balanced against the cost of instituting the programme.

Breast Cancer Research

But despite its stability, proximity, and blank slate of a market, necessity may prove to be the ultimate mother of invention in Algeria, as its formerly oil-reliant economy is forced to diversify or wither on the vine.

Vice

As this might undermine the state, retribution was considered an absolute necessity and the crime deserving of the ultimate punishment.

Wikipedia

It embodies a skeptical sensibility that questions attempts to transcend our situatedness by appeal to such ideas as universality, necessity, objectivity, rationality, essence, unity, totality, foundations, and ultimate Truth and Reality.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ultimate necessity" to underscore the critical and indispensable nature of something. It's stronger than simply saying something is "necessary".

Common error

Avoid using "ultimate necessity" in casual conversation or informal writing. It can sound overly formal or dramatic when a simpler term like "essential" would suffice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ultimate necessity" functions as a noun phrase that emphasizes the critical importance of something. According to Ludwig AI, it is considered grammatically correct. It intensifies the idea of needing something, indicating that it is absolutely indispensable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ultimate necessity" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to emphasize the critical importance of something. While considered formal, it appears across various contexts including encyclopedias, news, and scientific publications. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness. It's crucial to reserve its use for situations where you want to highlight the absolute essential nature of a specific need, and avoid overuse in more casual contexts where simpler language would suffice. Alternatives include "absolute necessity" or "essential requirement", offering similar emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

absolute necessity

Replaces "ultimate" with "absolute", emphasizing the indispensable nature of the necessity.

essential requirement

Substitutes both words with synonyms, focusing on the mandatory aspect of the requirement.

indispensable need

Emphasizes that the need cannot be done without, similar to "ultimate necessity".

critical imperative

Highlights the crucial and commanding nature of the necessity.

vital obligation

Focuses on the essential duty or responsibility, shifting the context slightly.

paramount importance

Shifts the focus to the supreme importance of something, implying its necessity.

key prerequisite

Highlights the function as a needed precondition.

chief essential

Underlines something's primary and fundamental nature.

fundamental requirement

Similar to "essential requirement", but emphasizes the foundational aspect.

basic requirement

Highlights the most foundational and core need, implying no substitutes are possible.

FAQs

How can I use "ultimate necessity" in a sentence?

You can use "ultimate necessity" to emphasize the critical importance of something. For example, "Access to clean water is the "ultimate necessity" for human survival".

What are some alternatives to "ultimate necessity"?

Alternatives include "absolute necessity", "essential requirement", or "indispensable need" depending on the context.

Is "ultimate necessity" formal or informal?

"Ultimate necessity" is generally considered a formal phrase and is best used in academic, professional, or journalistic writing.

What's the difference between "necessity" and "ultimate necessity"?

"Necessity" simply means something is needed. Adding "ultimate" emphasizes that it's not just needed, but absolutely essential and of the highest importance.