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Dispensable: meaning, definitions and examples

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dispensable

 

[ dɪˈspɛnsəbəl ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

in a sentence

Capable of being dispensed with or done without; not essential.

Synonyms

expendable, nonessential, superfluous, unnecessary.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
dispensable

Use this when something is not essential and can be done without without causing any issues. It often implies that the item or person is not crucial to the operation or situation.

  • With all the modern digital tools available now, floppy disks have become dispensable.
unnecessary

This word is used to describe something that is not needed at all and should be avoided. It can have a direct or slightly negative tone depending on the context.

  • It is unnecessary to bring extra snacks; we have plenty.
  • Adding extra salt to the dish was completely unnecessary and made it too salty.
expendable

This word is used when something can be used up or sacrificed because it is not considered too valuable. It may carry a more negative connotation, suggesting that the person or item is not valued highly.

  • In an emergency situation, some resources become expendable to save lives.
  • The soldiers were sadly treated as expendable by their commanders.
superfluous

This word is used to describe something that is more than what is needed and often implies excessiveness or redundancy. It carries a slightly negative tone.

  • His speech was filled with superfluous details that didn't add much to the main point.
  • Buying another pair of shoes seemed superfluous given she already had so many.
nonessential

Use this word to describe items or tasks that are not crucial or necessary for the main function. It is commonly used in formal or technical contexts.

  • Employees were encouraged to work from home during the nonessential tasks.
  • The job description listed nonessential skills that were not required but could be beneficial.

Examples of usage

  • It was clear that her role in the project was dispensable.
  • During the restructuring, the company identified several dispensable positions.
  • The extra features on the phone were dispensable and could be removed.
  • His presence at the meeting was deemed dispensable by the team.
  • The disposable income was used for non-dispensable expenses.

Translations

Translations of the word "dispensable" in other languages:

🇵🇹 dispensável

🇮🇳 अनावश्यक

🇩🇪 entbehrlich

🇮🇩 dapat diabaikan

🇺🇦 незначний

🇵🇱 zbędny

🇯🇵 不要

🇫🇷 superflu

🇪🇸 prescindible

🇹🇷 vazgeçilebilir

🇰🇷 불필요한

🇸🇦 غير ضروري

🇨🇿 zbytečný

🇸🇰 zbytočný

🇨🇳 可有可无

🇸🇮 odvečen

🇮🇸 óþarfur

🇰🇿 қажетсіз

🇬🇪 უსარგებლო

🇦🇿 lazımsız

🇲🇽 prescindible

Etymology

The word 'dispensable' originated from the Latin word 'dispensabilis', which means 'that can be dispensed with'. The term has been used in English since the early 19th century. The concept of something being dispensable has been present throughout history, as people have always had to determine what is essential and what can be done without. In modern times, the idea of dispensability is often applied in various contexts, such as business, technology, and everyday life.

See also: dispensation, dispenser, dispensing, indispensable.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #30,099 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.