Essence — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈe-sᵊn(t)s/ es·sence

Meaning & Definition of Essence

Essence (noun)

  1. the permanent as contrasted with the accidental element of being
  2. the individual, real, or ultimate nature of a thing especially as opposed to its existence
  3. the properties or attributes by means of which something can be placed in its proper class or identified as being what it is

Essence (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the quality or qualities that make a thing what it is

    "the belief that power ultimately rests with the people is the very essence of democracy"

    similar: being, essentiality, nature, quiddity, quintessence, soul, stuff, substance, name of the game
    related: heart, spirit, alpha and omega, center, core, keynote, marrow, pith, seat, embodiment, epitome, incarnation, manifestation, personification, aspect, attribute, feature, property, gist, kernel, nub

  2. the central part or aspect of something under consideration

    "presented the essence of weeks of testimony in a 20-minute appeal to the jury"

    similar: bottom line, bull's-eye, centerpiece, core, crux, gist, heart, kernel, keynote, meat, meat and potatoes, net, nub, nubbin, nucleus, pith, pivot, point, root, sum, sum and substance, the long and short
    related: course, direction, drift, tenor, body, content, substance, hypothesis, proposition, purport, subject, theme, thesis

Related Entry: Of the essence (phrase)

Of the essence is a different word from Essence. The synonyms below are for of the essence, not for essence.

  1. impossible to do without

    "Time is of the essence so please hurry."

    similar: all-important, critical, essential, imperative, indispensable, integral, must-have, necessary, necessitous, needed, needful, required, requisite, vital
    related: prerequisite, compulsory, mandatory, nonelective, obligatory, consequential, crucial, important, major, material, meaningful, momentous, significant, substantial, weighty, basic, central, fundamental, key, organic, insistent, persistent, pressing, urgent
    opposite: dispensable, inessential, needless, nonessential, unessential, unnecessary, unneeded
    near: undesired, unwanted, inconsequential, insignificant, unimportant, excess, external, extra, extraneous, superfluous, surplus

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Essence

The most common words with a similar meaning to Essence:

being, essentiality, nature, quiddity, quintessence, soul, stuff, substance, bottom line, bull's-eye, centerpiece, core, crux, gist, heart, kernel, keynote, meat, meat and potatoes, net, nub, nubbin, nucleus, pith, pivot, point, root, sum, name of the game, sum and substance, the long and short

Related Words for Essence

spirit, alpha and omega, center, marrow, seat, embodiment, epitome, incarnation, manifestation, personification, aspect, attribute, feature, property, course, direction, drift, tenor, body, content, hypothesis, proposition, purport, subject, theme, thesis

Origin & Etymology of Essence

Middle English essencia, from Latin essentia, from esse to be is

First known use: circa 1585

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Essence

Words & Phrases Containing Essence

in essence, of the essence, pearl essence

Frequently Asked Questions about Essence

What does "Essence" mean?

"Essence" means the permanent as contrasted with the accidental element of being. As a noun, it is defined as: the permanent as contrasted with the accidental element of being. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Essence"?

Other words for "Essence" include being, essentiality, nature, quiddity, quintessence, soul, stuff and substance. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Essence" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Essence"?

There are 57 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Essence". Common alternatives include being, essentiality, nature, quiddity, quintessence, soul, stuff, substance, bottom line and bull's-eye.

How do you use "Essence" in a sentence?

Examples of "Essence" in a sentence: "the belief that power ultimately rests with the people is the very essence of democracy"; "presented the essence of weeks of testimony in a 20-minute appeal to the jury".

Is "Essence" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Essence" is a noun.

Is "Essence" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Essence" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Essence"?

"Essence" is pronounced /ˈe-sᵊn(t)s/ and divided into syllables as es·sence.

What is the origin of the word "Essence"?

"Essence" comes from Middle English essencia, from Latin essentia, from esse to be is. First known use: circa 1585.