necessity

plural necessities

1. countableuncountableThe quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite.

   I bought a new table out of necessity. My old one was ruined.

   3 more examples

   The report I wrote was of necessity rushed and full of errors.

   Educating the public about some of the myths that underlie their fears that non-traditional families will of necessity be detrimental to the well-being of foster children.

   1985 December 7, Kim Westheimer, quoting Carol Brill, “Toy Dolls, Fake Dukakis 'Hear' Foster Testimony”, in Gay Community News, volume 13, number 21, page 1

   Seeing the British establishment struggle with the financial sector is like watching an alcoholic […]. Until 2008 there was denial over what finance had become. […] But the scandals kept coming, […]. A broad section of the political class now recognises the need for change but remains unable to see the necessity of a fundamental overhaul.

   2013 June 28, Joris Luyendijk, “Our banks are out of control”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 3, page 21

   Synonyms: necessariness, inevitability, needfulness, certainty

2. countableuncountableThe condition of being needy; desperate need; lack.

   For it is in vain for a man to think to seek God in his necessity and exigence, if he seek not God in his ordinances, and do not joy in them.

   1863, Richard Sibbes, “The Successful Seeker”, in The Complete Works of Richard Sibbes, D.D., Volume VI, James Nichol, page 125

3. countableuncountableSomething necessary; a requisite; something indispensable.

   A tent is a necessity if you plan on camping.

   2 more examples

   Look for the bare necessities / The simple bare necessities / Forget about your worries and your strife

   1967, Terry Gilkyson, “The Bare Necessities”, in The Jungle Book

   Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.

   20th century, Tenzin Gyatso (attributed)

   Synonyms: requisite

4. countableuncountableSomething which makes an act or an event unavoidable; an irresistible force; overruling power.

   After eating a full meal, the human body's necessity for food will compel the person to eat again in the future.

   1 more example

   I stopped, and said with inly muttered voice, 'It doth not love the shower, nor seek the cold: This neither is its courage nor its choice, But its necessity in being old.

   1804, The Small Celandine, Wordsworth

5. countableuncountableThe negation of freedom in voluntary action; the subjection of all phenomena, whether material or spiritual, to inevitable causation; necessitarianism.
6. countableuncountablelawGreater utilitarian good; used in justification of a criminal act.

   doctrine of necessity

7. countablein pluraluncountablelawIndispensable requirements (of life).