necessity is the mother of innovation

A form of necessity is the mother of invention — The primary driving force for most new inventions is a need.

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Meanings

proverb
  1. alternativeAlternative form of necessity is the mother of invention.

Origin

More recent variant, focusing on innovating existing processes etc. rather than inventing new things.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

necessity is the mother of innovation. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/necessity%20is%20the%20mother%20of%20innovation

MLA

“necessity is the mother of innovation.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/necessity%20is%20the%20mother%20of%20innovation. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “necessity is the mother of innovation,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/necessity%20is%20the%20mother%20of%20innovation.

Source: necessity is the mother of innovation on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.