Is meditation necessary in Buddhism? According to wikipedia article on the eightfold path, 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noble_Eightfold_Path


  The Eightfold Path consists of eight practices: right view, right resolve, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right samadhi ('meditative absorption or union').[4] In early Buddhism, these practices started with understanding that the body-mind works in a corrupted way (right view), followed by entering the Buddhist path of self-observance, self-restraint, and cultivating kindness and compassion; and culminating in dhyana or samadhi, which re-inforces these practices for the development of the body-mind.


My question: Is meditation necessary in Buddhism? Is the practice of Buddhism incomplete without meditation?
Meditation and the Noble Eightfold Path is necessary for Buddhist enlightenment but it is not a compulsory practise for Buddhist lay people (non-monks). The Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta) says:


  There are these two extremes that are not to be indulged in by one who has gone forth [from the household life]. Which two? That which is
  devoted to sensual pleasure with reference to sensual objects: base,
  vulgar, common, ignoble, unprofitable; and that which is devoted to
  self-affliction: painful, ignoble, unprofitable. Avoiding both of
  these extremes, the middle way realized by the Tathagata — producing
  vision, producing knowledge — leads to calm, to direct knowledge, to
  self-awakening, to Nibbana. And what is the middle way realized by the
  Tathagata... Precisely this Noble Eightfold Path: right view, right
  resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort,
  right mindfulness, right concentration.


For Buddhist lay people, they should ideally at least practise the five moral precepts of training in non-killing, non-stealing, non-sexual-misconduct, non-lying &amp; non-drug-alcohol taking. Also, avoiding worse bad things, such as gambling, addictions to entertainment, indebtedness &amp; laziness. Refer to the Sigalovada Sutta for the The Layperson's Code of Discipline.

Also, fully completing the last factor of the Noble Eightfold Path, namely, Right Samadhi, is not required for the 1st stage of enlightenment, called "stream-entry".

There is a preliminary level of right samadhi called "neighbourhood concentration". It does not reach "absorption" yet it is "right" because it has a foundation of Right Understanding or non-clinging. It is clear enough for the development of insight.