Necessity vs. Need — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on March 14, 2024
Necessity refers to something essential or unavoidable, crucial for survival or the functioning of a system, whereas need denotes a requirement or desire for well-being and fulfillment.
Difference Between Necessity and Need
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Key Differences
Necessity encompasses items or conditions indispensable for life, such as food, water, and shelter, highlighting elements vital for survival. In contrast, need extends to desires and aspirations crucial for an individual's or entity's growth and satisfaction, not limited to mere survival.
While necessities are universally acknowledged essentials, the concept of need can be subjective, varying significantly among individuals and cultures, reflecting personal or societal values and priorities. On the other hand, necessities are more objective, often universally applicable across human societies.
The fulfillment of necessities is paramount for sustaining life and maintaining basic societal functions. Needs, whereas, focus on achieving a higher quality of life, encompassing both material and immaterial aspects like education, affection, and self-expression.
In a socio-economic context, necessities are the minimum requirements for maintaining a healthy existence, often reflected in policies and aid programs. Needs, on the other hand, might dictate individual and collective goals, driving personal choices and societal advancements.
The distinction between necessity and need becomes crucial in prioritizing resources and efforts, especially in crisis situations where meeting necessities takes precedence to ensure survival. Needs, while important for overall well-being, may be deferred until necessities are secured.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Something essential for survival or system functioning
A requirement for well-being and fulfillment
Nature
Objective and universal
Subjective and variable
Focus
Survival and basic functions
Quality of life and personal growth
Scope
Indispensable for life
Encompasses desires and aspirations
Socio-Economic Implication
Minimum requirements for a healthy existence
Drives personal choices and societal advancements
Compare with Definitions
Necessity
Essential conditions or items for survival.
Access to clean water is a necessity for human health.
Need
Requirements for a good quality of life.
Education is a fundamental need for personal development.
Necessity
Universal requirements across societies.
Food is a basic necessity for all communities.
Need
Aspirations or goals of individuals or groups.
She felt the need to pursue her passion for art.
Necessity
Fundamentals required for the operation of a system.
For a car, fuel is a necessity for it to function.
Need
Desires aiming for fulfillment and happiness.
Humans have a need for companionship and love.
Necessity
Something unavoidable in a particular situation.
In harsh climates, adequate shelter becomes a necessity.
Need
The demand for resources or conditions.
There's a need for affordable housing in urban areas.
Necessity
Indispensable elements in various contexts.
In surgery, sterilization is a necessity to prevent infections.
Need
A lack of something desirable or useful.
The community expressed a need for more green spaces.
Necessity
The condition or quality of being necessary.
Need
A need is something that is necessary for an organism to live a healthy life. Needs are distinguished from wants.
Necessity
Something necessary
The necessities of life include food, clothing, and shelter.
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.
Necessity
Something dictated by invariable physical laws.
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).
Necessity
The force exerted by circumstance.
Need
Necessity; obligation
There is no need for you to go.
Necessity
The state or fact of being in need.
Need
A condition of poverty or misfortune
The family is in dire need.
Necessity
Pressing or urgent need, especially that arising from poverty.
Need
To be under the necessity of or the obligation to
They need not come. You needn't be concerned.
Necessity
The quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite.
I bought a new table out of necessity. My old one was ruined.
Need
To have need of; require
The family needs money. We need to get some more paint.
Necessity
The condition of being needy; desperate need; lack.
Need
To have an obligation (to do something)
You need to clean up your room.
Necessity
Something necessary; a requisite; something indispensable.
A tent is a necessity if you plan on camping.
Need
To be subject (to an action) by obligation
Bags need to be stowed underneath the seat in front of you.
Necessity
Something which makes an act or an event unavoidable; an irresistible force; overruling power.
After eating a full meal, the human body's necessity for food will compel the person to eat again in the future.
Need
To want to be subject to
We don't need another lecture on the subject.
Necessity
The negation of freedom in voluntary action; the subjection of all phenomena, whether material or spiritual, to inevitable causation; necessitarianism. en
Need
To be in need or want.
Necessity
(legal) Greater utilitarian good; used in justification of a criminal act.
Doctrine of necessity
Need
To be necessary.
Necessity
Indispensable requirements (of life).
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.
Necessity
The quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite; inevitableness; indispensableness.
Need
Lack of means of subsistence; poverty; indigence; destitution.
Necessity
The condition of being needy or necessitous; pressing need; indigence; want.
Urge the necessity and state of times.
The extreme poverty and necessity his majesty was in.
Need
(transitive) To have an absolute requirement for.
Living things need water to survive.
Necessity
That which is necessary; a necessary; a requisite; something indispensable; - often in the plural.
These should be hours for necessities,Not for delights.
What was once to meMere matter of the fancy, now has grownThe vast necessity of heart and life.
Need
(transitive) To want strongly; to feel that one must have something.
After ten days of hiking, I needed a shower and a shave.
Necessity
That which makes an act or an event unavoidable; irresistible force; overruling power; compulsion, physical or moral; fate; fatality.
So spake the fiend, and with necessity,The tyrant's plea, excused his devilish deeds.
Need
(modal verb) To be obliged or required (to do something).
You need not go if you don't want to.
Necessity
The negation of freedom in voluntary action; the subjection of all phenomena, whether material or spiritual, to inevitable causation; necessitarianism.
Need
(intransitive) To be required; to be necessary.
Necessity
The condition of being essential or indispensable
Need
To be necessary (to someone).
Necessity
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
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 cultures influence the perception of needs and necessities?
Cultural values and priorities shape what is considered a need or necessity, leading to variations across different societies.
Can needs become necessities?
Certain needs, like those related to health and safety, can become necessities under specific conditions or societal norms.
Can societal changes shift what is considered a necessity?
Yes, societal evolution, technological advancements, and environmental changes can redefine what is considered a necessity.
How do personal circumstances affect one's needs and necessities?
Individual circumstances, such as health, economic status, and environment, can influence what one considers a need or necessity.
What role do governments play in ensuring necessities are met?
Governments are responsible for creating and implementing policies to ensure that their citizens have access to life's necessities, often through public services and aid.
Can environmental sustainability be considered a necessity?
Yes, as awareness of environmental issues grows, sustainable practices are increasingly viewed as necessities for the health of the planet and future generations.
How do emergencies impact the prioritization of needs and necessities?
In emergencies, immediate focus shifts to securing necessities such as safety, food, and water, while longer-term needs may be temporarily sidelined.
What determines a necessity?
A necessity is determined by its essential role in maintaining life, health, and the basic functioning of systems.
Why is the distinction between necessity and need important?
Distinguishing between the two helps in prioritizing actions and resources, especially in policy-making, aid, and personal life management.
Is access to the internet a need or a necessity?
While traditionally seen as a need, increasing reliance on digital platforms for education, work, and communication is shifting it towards a necessity in many contexts.
What is the impact of fulfilling needs and necessities on well-being?
Fulfilling both is crucial for physical survival, mental health, and overall well-being, contributing to societal stability and personal satisfaction.
How do economic systems address needs and necessities?
Economic systems aim to allocate resources efficiently to meet both needs and necessities, often through market mechanisms and social programs.
How does globalization affect perceptions of needs and necessities?
Globalization can standardize certain needs and necessities worldwide while also highlighting disparities between different regions and cultures.
Do technological advancements create new needs or necessities?
Technological advancements can introduce new needs by changing how we live and work, and over time, some of these needs may evolve into necessities.
How can individuals balance needs and necessities?
Balancing involves prioritizing necessities for survival and health while also striving to fulfill personal and emotional needs for a balanced life.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
