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essentials

/ɪˈsɛnʃəlz/ · es·sen·tial·s
noun
  1. A necessary ingredient. Salt is one of the essentials in baking bread.
  2. A fundamental ingredient. Understanding basic arithmetic is an essential for solving more complex equations.

Synonyms

basicsfundamentalsnecessitiesrequisitesmust‑havescorerudimentsprerequisites

Antonyms

nonessentialsluxuriessuperfluitiesextrasfrillsdispensables
Did you know? The phrase “the essentials” was famously used as the title of James Beard’s 1942 cookbook, which helped popularize the term for a concise list of indispensable kitchen items.

Related terms

essentialessentialismessentialityessentialnessessentialistessentialize
Written by Lexi Wordsworth, Dictionary Editor 0 lookups Added Jul 21, 2026