sine qua non

noun

si·​ne qua non ˌsi-ni-ˌkwä-ˈnän  -ˈnōn 

 also  ˌsē-;

 also  ˌsī-ni-ˌkwā-ˈnän

plural sine qua nons also sine quibus non -ˌkwi-(ˌ)bu̇s- 

 also  -ˌkwī-

: something absolutely indispensable or essential

reliability is a sine qua non for success

Did you know?

Sine qua non can be translated literally as "Without which, not." Though this may sound like gibberish, it means more or less "Without (something), (something else) won't be possible." Sine qua non sounds slightly literary, and it shouldn't be used just anywhere. But it actually shows up in many contexts, including business ("A solid customer base is the sine qua non to success"), show business ("A good agent is a sine qua non for an actor's career"), and politics ("His support was really the sine qua non for her candidacy").

Synonyms

• condition
• demand
• essential
• must
• must-have
• necessary
• necessity
• need
• needful
• requirement
• requisite

Examples of sine qua non in a Sentence

Patience is a sine qua non for this job.

an extensive grounding in mathematics is a sine qua non for a career in architecture

Recent Examples on the Web

The sine qua non for achieving this objective is assurances from Iran about its regional power projection, such as a commitment to not support nonstate actors financially or militarily on the Arabian Peninsula. —Ali Vaez, Foreign Affairs, 8 May 2023

Goleman underscored its importance, noting that while IQ and technical skills are crucial, emotional intelligence is the sine qua non of leadership. —Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024

For those actors who consider crying to be the sine qua non of their art, a sorrowful biography offers a distinct advantage in the Method acting sweepstakes. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2024

And yet, Papà said, the Congolese were the essential ingredient, the sine qua non, of arguably the most consequential creation in modern history. —Ngofeen Mputubwele, WIRED, 21 Aug. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin, without which not

First Known Use

1602, in the meaning defined above