Meaning 1neutral; can be mildly critical · 82%
Not required or providing no useful benefit in a situation.
Natural examples
Nimm nur eine Jacke mit, der zweite Mantel ist unnötig.
Take only one jacket; the second coat is unnecessary.
Mit dem Streit machten sich beide unnötig Sorgen.
The argument made both of them worry needlessly.
Bitte drucke nicht jede Seite aus; das wäre unnötiger Aufwand.
Please do not print every page; that would be unnecessary effort.
Usage note
Unnötig can mean not required or, more critically, having no useful purpose.
Mini-lesson: unnötig
Not required or providing no useful benefit in a situation. Unnötig can mean not required or, more critically, having no useful purpose.
Check your learning
Choose one answer.Which definition matches «unnötig»?