nonnecessity
Something not required
A nonnecessity is something not essential or required—a luxury, convenience, or optional item.
The word appears most often in discussions of budgeting or priorities: We cut nonnecessities like streaming subscriptions and dining out.
It emphasizes that something can be eliminated without real hardship.
Exceeding what's needed
- unneededNot required at all
- dispensableAble to be sacrificed
- extraneousNot pertinent or essential
- gratuitousGiven without necessity
unessential · inessential · expendable · unwarranted · de trop · supererogatory · incidental · peripheral
Amount exceeding requirement
- overabundanceExcessive quantity beyond need
- glutExcessive surplus
- surfeitExcessive quantity, often cloying
- plethoraExcessive surplus
oversupply · redundancy · overflow · saturation · profusion · superabundance · overkill · overproduction
Expensive nonessential comfort
- treatSomething pleasantly special
- splurgeSpend freely, impulsively
- extravaganceExcessive, wasteful spending
- pamperingLavish attentive care
self-care · gratification · decadence · pleasure · comfort · leisure · recreation · entertainment
Chosen, not mandated
- voluntaryDone by choice
- discretionarySubject to personal judgment
- nonobligatoryNot compulsory or mandated
- noncompulsoryNot required by rule
nonmandatory · unrequired · choice · selective · flexible · preferential · permissive · unforced
redundant
Exceeding what's needed
- unneededNot required at all
- dispensableAble to be sacrificed
- extraneousNot pertinent or essential
gratuitous · unessential · inessential · expendable · unwarranted · de trop · supererogatory · incidental · peripheral · ancillary
surplus
Amount exceeding requirement
- overabundanceExcessive quantity beyond need
- glutExcessive surplus
- surfeitExcessive quantity, often cloying
plethora · oversupply · redundancy · overflow · saturation · profusion · superabundance · overkill · overproduction · overstock
luxury
Expensive nonessential comfort
- treatSomething pleasantly special
- splurgeSpend freely, impulsively
- extravaganceExcessive, wasteful spending
pampering · self-care · gratification · decadence · pleasure · comfort · leisure · recreation · entertainment · diversion
elective
Chosen, not mandated
- voluntaryDone by choice
- discretionarySubject to personal judgment
- nonobligatoryNot compulsory or mandated
noncompulsory · nonmandatory · unrequired · choice · selective · flexible · preferential · permissive · unforced · volitional
nonnecessitynecessity
Indispensable requirement
need · requirement · essential · must · prerequisite
nonnecessitynecessity
Indispensable requirement
inevitability · certainty · inescapability · determinism · inexorability