Origin: Latin suffix -al
Essential has 8 different meanings across 2 categories:
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"
A necessary ingredient.
"Adding a pinch of salt was essential to bring out the flavor in this bland dish."
In plain English: An essential is something absolutely necessary that you cannot do without.
"The ingredients for the recipe included two essential items: butter and flour."
Usage: Use "essential" as a noun to refer to a specific item or ingredient that is absolutely required for something to function or exist, such as calling water an essential for survival. Avoid using it this way when you simply mean something important but not strictly necessary.
absolutely necessary; vitally necessary
"essential tools and materials"
"funds essential to the completion of the project"
"an indispensable worker"
of the greatest importance
"the all-important subject of disarmament"
"crucial information"
"in chess cool nerves are of the essence"
defining rights and duties as opposed to giving the rules by which rights and duties are established
"substantive law"
Necessary.
"Please remember to bring your passport, as it is essential for getting through customs."
In plain English: Essential means something that is absolutely necessary and cannot be left out.
"Water is essential for life."
Usage: Use essential to describe something absolutely necessary or indispensable for a specific purpose or situation. Avoid using it simply to mean important when a less strong word like significant would suffice.
The word essential comes from the Late Latin term essentiālis, which was derived from the Latin noun essentia. Its original meaning referred to "being" or "essence."