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Sine Qua Non

Latin for 'without which not.' An essential condition or element without which something cannot exist or occur.

Encyclopedia entry: Sine Qua Non

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sine qua non

The phrase sine qua non is Latin for “without which not.” When something is described as sine qua non, it is a necessary or indispensable requirement. The phrase represents an essential element , component, or condition of something else.

[Last reviewed in July of 2021 by the Wex Definitions Team
]

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Encyclopedia content from Cornell LII Wex (CC-BY-NC-SA 2.5).

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