nonessentiel

Nonessentiel is a term used to describe elements that are not required for the core function, operation, or purpose of a system, process, or organization. It derives from the negative adverb non in several Romance languages (notably French) combined with essential, indicating something that is not strictly necessary. In practice, what counts as nonessential can vary by context, standards, or situational priorities.

In public policy and public health, nonessential items or activities are those that can be postponed or restricted without compromising safety or core services. During emergencies or lockdowns, governments may distinguish essential versus nonessential businesses, services, or travel to allocate resources effectively.

In nutrition, the term translates to amino acids that the human body can synthesize, and therefore does not require to be supplied by the diet. Essential amino acids must be obtained from food. Some nutrients are described as conditionally essential, meaning they may become essential under certain physiological conditions.

In engineering, product design, and project management, nonessential features or tasks are considered optional or peripheral. They may be deprioritized during resource constraints or critical deadlines to focus on core functionality and reliability.

In linguistics and grammar, nonessential (or nonrestrictive) information refers to clauses or phrases that add extra detail but do not affect the fundamental meaning of a sentence if removed.

See also: essential, nonessentialism, conditional essentiality.