noodzaak

Noodzaak is a Dutch noun meaning necessity or essential requirement. It can refer to something that must be done or to a condition that makes action unavoidable. The term is used in everyday language as well as in policy, law, and philosophy. Examples include: "Er is een duidelijke noodzaak om te handelen" and "de noodzaak van hervormingen."

Etymology: It combines nood (need, distress) and zaak (matter, affair). The word comes from Middle Dutch and is cognate with the German Notwendigkeit and the English necessity.

Grammatical notes: Noodzaak is a common noun used with de or een: "de noodzaak," "een noodzaak." The adjective form is "noodzakelijk" meaning "necessary." Phrases include "noodzaak om te handelen" (need to act) and "de noodzaak van hervormingen" (the necessity of reforms). The expression "dringende noodzaak" emphasizes urgency.

Usage and nuance: The term often signals an objective requirement rather than a matter of personal preference. It can range from practical imperatives to formal justifications. In philosophy, "noodzakelijkheid" denotes necessity as a logical or metaphysical property. Synonyms include essentieel, noodzakelijk, and onontbeerlijk; antonym: overbodig.