Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - needless

~ adj 1 needless troubles, suffering, loss etc are unnecessary because they could easily have been avoided  (the needless loss of life | needless expense | a lot of needless worry) 2 needless to say used when you are telling someone something that they probably know or expect  (Needless to say, we'll pay your expenses.) - needlessly adv  (Thousands of women die needlessly every year because of poor medical care.)