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nonessential Definition

non·essen·tial (nän′ə sen′s̸həl)

adjective

  1. not essential; of relatively no importance; unnecessary
  2. Biochem. designating biological compounds, esp. amino acids, required by living systems, that can be made in adequate amounts from other dietary constituents

noun

a nonessential person or thing

nonessential Synonyms

nonessential

modif.

superfluous, insignificant, petty; see trivial, unimportant.

nonessential Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • acid: However, it is classed as a nonessential amino acid, which means the body manufactures it from other amino acids.
  • service: Attacks that disrupt nonessential services or that are mainly a costly nuisance would not.
  • business: Strengthening the comfort nonessential business and small dealers are.
  • number: HOW TO STAY YOUNG 1. Throw out nonessential numbers.
  • travel: CDC first issued its strongest warning -- a travel advisory -- for Vietnam in March, suggesting that all but nonessential travel be postponed.
  • information: If you like a story with nonessential information and an author that is entirely to verbose, then this book is for you.

Used with adjective complement

  • lack: Also included are expression data relating to the efficiency of splicing relative to other processes in strains of yeast lacking nonessential splicing factors.