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essence

/ˈɛsəns/noun

The basic quality that makes something what it truly is.

Example sentences

  • “Freedom of speech is the essence of democracy.”
  • “The essence of good cooking is fresh ingredients.”

'In essence' means fundamentally. 'Of the essence' means indispensable, as in the contract phrase 'time is of the essence'.

Synonyms for essence

Related words

epitomeA person or thing that perfectly represents a whole type or quality.eternalLasting forever, or seeming to have no end.essayA fairly short piece of writing that examines a single topic or question.etherealBelonging to the sky or a realm beyond the earth; light, delicate, and seemingly not of this world.espouseTo support a belief, cause, or way of life and speak publicly in favor of it.ethernetA wired system for connecting computers into a network, built on a widely used technical standard.