Necessary vs. Need — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 2, 2024
"Necessary" refers to something required or essential, often imposed by circumstances or rules, while "need" denotes a personal or inherent requirement for survival or well-being.
Difference Between Necessary and Need
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Key Differences
Something necessary implies a requirement that must be met for a specific purpose, system, or result to be achieved. For example, a helmet is necessary for safety while riding a motorcycle. On the other hand, a need is more about a fundamental requirement that a person or system has, such as needing food and water to live.
In legal or formal contexts, the term "necessary" is often used to describe conditions or actions that are compulsory, as dictated by rules or logic. Whereas, "need" typically describes more of a personal or emotional requirement, which may not be bound by formality but by personal circumstances or desires.
"Necessary" can carry a sense of imposition from external factors, suggesting something is mandated or unavoidable. In contrast, "need" often arises internally, reflecting personal or intrinsic motivations, such as the need for love or achievement.
While "necessary" items or actions are often non-negotiable and dictated by external requirements, needs can vary greatly among individuals and can be influenced by personal values, circumstances, and experiences.
In terms of priority, necessary things are usually deemed essential for functioning or compliance within a given framework, like laws or guidelines. Needs, however, often relate to a personal sense of urgency or importance, which might not be universally recognized or enforced.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Required by rules or circumstances
Essential for well-being or desire
Origin
Often external
Usually internal
Flexibility
Generally inflexible
Can be subjective and flexible
Context of use
Legal, formal, systematic
Personal, psychological, emotional
Examples
Safety equipment in industries
Food, shelter, emotional support
Compare with Definitions
Necessary
Required to be done, achieved, or present. needed. essential.
Wearing a uniform is necessary for school attendance.
Need
Require (something) because it is essential or very important rather than just desirable.
I need a drink of water after that run.
Necessary
Determined, existing, or happening by natural laws or predestination. inevitable.
It was necessary to overhaul the engine to prevent failure.
Need
Something that is necessary or required.
Basic needs include food, clothing, and shelter.
Necessary
Compulsory. mandatory.
Submitting identification is necessary for registration.
Need
A condition or situation in which something is required or wanted.
Clothes tailored to the needs of larger sizes are now available.
Necessary
Logically unavoidable.
A conclusion that is necessary from the given premises.
Need
Expressing necessity or obligation.
Need I say more?
Necessary
Constituting the essence or nature of something.
Understanding calculus is necessary for advanced physics courses.
Need
A lack of something requisite, desirable, or useful.
With the drought, there was a great need for rain.
Necessary
Needed or required
A contract complete with the necessary signatures.
Conditions necessary to life.
Need
A need is something that is necessary for an organism to live a healthy life. Needs are distinguished from wants.
Necessary
Unavoidably determined by prior conditions or circumstances; inevitable
The necessary results of overindulgence.
Need
A condition or situation in which something must be supplied in order for a certain condition to be maintained or a desired state to be achieved
Crops in need of water.
A child's need for affection.
Necessary
Logically inevitable
A necessary conclusion.
Need
Something required or wanted; a requisite
"Those of us who led the charge for these women's issues ... shared a common vision in the needs of women" (Olympia Snowe).
Necessary
Required by obligation, compulsion, or convention
Made the necessary apologies.
Need
Necessity; obligation
There is no need for you to go.
Necessary
Something indispensable.
Need
A condition of poverty or misfortune
The family is in dire need.
Necessary
Required, essential, whether logically inescapable or needed in order to achieve a desired result or avoid some penalty.
Although I wished to think that all was false, it was yet necessary that I, who thus thought, must in some sense exist.
It is absolutely necessary that you call and confirm your appointment.
Need
To be under the necessity of or the obligation to
They need not come. You needn't be concerned.
Necessary
Unavoidable, inevitable.
If it is absolutely necessary to use public computers, you should plan ahead and forward your e-mail to a temporary, disposable account.
Need
To have need of; require
The family needs money. We need to get some more paint.
Necessary
(obsolete) Determined, involuntary: acting from compulsion rather than free will.
Need
To have an obligation (to do something)
You need to clean up your room.
Necessary
A place to do the "necessary" business of urination and defecation: an outhouse or lavatory.
Need
To be subject (to an action) by obligation
Bags need to be stowed underneath the seat in front of you.
Necessary
(obsolete) Necessity.
Need
To want to be subject to
We don't need another lecture on the subject.
Necessary
Such as must be; impossible to be otherwise; not to be avoided; inevitable.
Death, a necessary end,Will come when it will come.
Need
To be in need or want.
Necessary
Impossible to be otherwise, or to be dispensed with, without preventing the attainment of a desired result; indispensable; requisite; essential.
A certain kind of temper is necessary to the pleasure and quiet of our minds.
Need
To be necessary.
Necessary
Acting from necessity or compulsion; involuntary; - opposed to free; as, whether man is a necessary or a free agent is a question much discussed.
Need
A requirement for something; something needed.
There's no need to speculate; we can easily find out for sure.
She grew irritated with his constant need for attention.
Our needs are not being met.
I've always tried to have few needs beyond food, clothing and shelter.
Necessary
A thing that is necessary or indispensable to some purpose; something that one can not do without; a requisite; an essential; - used chiefly in the plural; as, the necessaries of life.
Need
Lack of means of subsistence; poverty; indigence; destitution.
Necessary
A privy; a water-closet.
Need
(transitive) To have an absolute requirement for.
Living things need water to survive.
Necessary
Such things, in respect to infants, lunatics, and married women, as are requisite for support suitable to station.
Need
(transitive) To want strongly; to feel that one must have something.
After ten days of hiking, I needed a shower and a shave.
Necessary
Anything indispensable;
Food and shelter are necessities of life
The essentials of the good life
Allow farmers to buy their requirements under favorable conditions
A place where the requisites of water fuel and fodder can be obtained
Need
(modal verb) To be obliged or required (to do something).
You need not go if you don't want to.
Necessary
Absolutely essential
Need
(intransitive) To be required; to be necessary.
Necessary
Unavoidably determined by prior circumstances;
The necessary consequences of one's actions
Need
To be necessary (to someone).
Need
A state that requires supply or relief; pressing occasion for something; necessity; urgent want.
And the city had no need of the sun.
I have no need to beg.
Be governed by your needs, not by your fancy.
Need
Want of the means of subsistence; poverty; indigence; destitution.
Famine is in thy cheeks;Need and oppression starveth in thine eyes.
Need
That which is needful; anything necessary to be done; (pl.) necessary things; business.
Need
Situation of need; peril; danger.
Need
To be in want of; to have cause or occasion for; to lack; to require, as supply or relief.
Other creatures all day longRove idle, unemployed, and less need rest.
Need
To be wanted; to be necessary.
When we have done it, we have done all that is in our power, and all that needs.
Need
Of necessity. See Needs.
Need
A condition requiring relief;
She satisfied his need for affection
God has no need of men to accomplish His work
There is a demand for jobs
Need
Anything that is necessary but lacking;
He had sufficient means to meet his simple needs
I tried to supply his wants
Need
The psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior;
We did not understand his motivation
He acted with the best of motives
Need
A state of extreme poverty or destitution;
Their indigence appalled him
A general state of need exists among the homeless
Need
Require as useful, just, or proper;
It takes nerve to do what she did
Success usually requires hard work
This job asks a lot of patience and skill
This position demands a lot of personal sacrifice
This dinner calls for a spectacular dessert
This intervention does not postulates a patient's consent
Need
Have need of;
This piano wants the attention of a competent tuner
Need
Have or feel a need for;
Always needing friends and money
Common Curiosities
How do "necessary" and "need" differ in usage?
"Necessary" is used in contexts requiring compliance with external standards or conditions, while "need" is more about personal or emotional requirements.
What is a "need"?
A "need" is a requirement that is crucial for personal survival or well-being, often stemming from internal desires or conditions.
Can something be necessary but not needed?
Yes, something might be necessary due to external requirements but not personally needed by an individual.
How do cultural perceptions influence what is considered necessary or needed?
Cultural values and norms can shape what individuals and societies consider necessary or what they perceive as needs.
How does the concept of necessity change in emergencies?
In emergencies, the scope of what is considered necessary can expand significantly to include items or actions typically not seen as mandatory.
How do needs affect consumer behavior?
Consumer needs drive purchasing decisions, influencing market demand and product development focused on meeting these needs.
Is emotional support considered a need or necessary?
Emotional support is generally considered a need, essential for personal emotional well-being, rather than necessary unless specified by specific therapeutic or medical guidelines.
What implications does failing to meet necessary regulations have?
Failure to meet necessary regulations can result in legal penalties, operational disruptions, and reputational damage.
What does "necessary" mean?
"Necessary" refers to something essential and required, often as per external rules or natural laws.
Why is it important to distinguish between necessary and need?
Understanding the distinction helps in prioritizing actions and resources based on what is compulsory versus what is desired or essential for personal well-being.
Can the legal definition of necessary impact personal freedoms?
Yes, legal requirements deemed necessary can impose restrictions on personal freedoms to ensure safety, compliance, and order in society.
How are necessary resources allocated in organizations?
Organizations prioritize necessary resources based on strategic goals, compliance requirements, and operational needs.
What role does necessity play in ethical decision-making?
Necessity can justify decisions or actions in ethical dilemmas where compliance or essential outcomes must be achieved.
How can understanding individual needs improve interpersonal relationships?
Recognizing and addressing individual needs can enhance empathy, support, and communication in relationships.
How do needs influence educational approaches?
Educational strategies are often tailored to meet the varying needs of students to ensure effective learning and personal development.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
