1. Absolutely necessary; vitally necessary
   "essential tools and materials"; "funds essential to the completion of the project";
   - indispensable
    
2. Of the greatest importance
   "the essential subject of disarmament";
   - all-important, crucial, of the essence
    
3. Basic and fundamental
   "the essential feature"
    
4. Being or relating to or containing the essence of a plant etc
   "essential oil"
    
5. (law) defining rights and duties as opposed to giving the rules by which rights and duties are established
   "essential law";
   - substantive

1. Anything indispensable
   "the essentials of the good life";
   - necessity, requirement, requisite, necessary

Derived forms: essentials

See also: biogenic, component, constituent, constitutional, constitutive, crucial, essentiality, essentialness, important, indispensable, intrinsic, intrinsical [archaic], life-sustaining, must, necessary, no-frills, of import, primary, staple, substantial, substantive, unexpendable, virtual, vital

Type of: thing

Antonym: adjective, inessential

Encyclopedia: Essential