sine qua non
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
An indispensable condition. Lat. Sine qua non potest esse or fieri (that without which [the thing] cannot be, or be done).
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “sine qua non” mean?
An indispensable condition. Lat. Sine qua non potest esse or fieri (that without which [the thing] cannot be, or be done).
Is “sine qua non” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.