What it means
なくして means “without” and presents the preceding noun as an essential condition or prerequisite. It is a formal, emphatic construction often used with expressions of impossibility, prohibition, or denial, giving the sense that the following result cannot occur unless the stated condition is met. It is especially common in written, official, academic, and rhetorical language.
Usage note
なくして is considerably more formal than ordinary ways of expressing “without.” It is frequently followed by a negative expression, and なくしては is also common when explicitly emphasizing that the result is impossible without the preceding condition.
How to use it
本人の同意なくして、契約を変更することはできません。
Without the person's consent, the contract cannot be changed.
本人の同意なくして、契約を変更することはできない。
Without the person's consent, the contract cannot be changed.
Example sentences
信頼なくしては、長期的な協力関係を築くことはできない。
Without trust, it is impossible to build a long-term cooperative relationship.
綿密な検証なくして、この研究の結論を公表することはできない。
Without meticulous verification, the conclusion of this study cannot be made public.
十分な準備なくして、複雑な試験に合格するのは難