WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
in•dis•pen•sa•ble /ˌɪndɪˈspɛnsəbəl/USA pronunciation
adj.
in•dis•pen•sa•bly, adv. See -pend-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- necessary or essential:A computer is indispensable to many writers.
in•dis•pen•sa•bly, adv. See -pend-.
in•dis•pen•sa•ble
(in′di spen′sə bəl),USA pronunciation adj.
n.
in′dis•pen′sa•bil′i•ty, in′dis•pen′sa•ble•ness, n.
in′dis•pen′sa•bly, adv.
- absolutely necessary, essential, or requisite:an indispensable member of the staff.
- incapable of being disregarded or neglected:an indispensable obligation.
n.
- a person or thing that is indispensable.
- Medieval Latin indispēnsābilis not subject to dispensation. See in-3, dispensable
- 1525–35
in′dis•pen′sa•bly, adv.
- 1. needed. See necessary.
'indispensability' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):