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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.
In legal matters, "but-for", "sine qua non", causa sine qua non, or "cause-in-fact" causation, or condicio sine qua non, is a circumstance in which a certain act is a material cause of a certain injury or wrongdoing, without which the injury would not have occurred.
SINE QUA NON definition: 1. a necessary condition without which something is not possible: 2. a necessary condition without…. Learn more.
SINE QUA NON meaning: 1. a necessary condition without which something is not possible: 2. a necessary condition without…. Learn more.
The essential, crucial, or indispensable ingredient without which something would be impossible: “Her leadership was the sine qua non of the organization's success.” From Latin, meaning “without which nothing.”
What does the phrase sine qua non mean? There are four meanings listed in OED's entry for the phrase sine qua non . See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
sine qua non (of/for something) something that is essential before you can achieve something else. TV coverage is the sine qua non of a sport if it is to thrive. Trust is a sine qua non for any counselling.
