What does ‘necessity is the mother of invention’ mean?
To “necessity is the mother of invention” means to need drives creativity. The saying appears in various forms in classical writers; Brewer's includes it among the classical maxims familiar in English.
Origin
- The saying appears in various forms in classical writers; Brewer's includes it among the classical maxims familiar in English.
How to use it
- Common comment on improvised solutions.
- Example: During the shortage they built their own — necessity is the mother of invention.
Source:
Last verified: 2026-07-18
- Definitions and origins are drawn from public-domain reference works, primarily Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898), with modern usage notes clearly marked.