compulsory
Americanadjective
-
required; mandatory; obligatory.
compulsory education.
- Antonyms:
- voluntary
-
using compulsion; compelling; constraining.
compulsory measures to control rioting.
- Antonyms:
- voluntary
noun
plural
compulsoriesadjective
-
required by regulations or laws; obligatory
compulsory education
-
involving or employing compulsion; compelling; necessary; essential
Other Word Forms
- compulsorily adverb
- compulsoriness noun
- noncompulsorily adverb
- noncompulsorilyness noun
- noncompulsory adjective
- quasi-compulsorily adverb
- quasi-compulsory adjective
- uncompulsory adjective
Etymology
Origin of compulsory
1510–20; < Medieval Latin compulsōrius, equivalent to Latin compul-, variant stem of compellere ( compel ) + -sōrius, for -tōrius -tory 1; compulsive
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Ministers have formally rejected a reality TV star's petition for ice rinks to make wearing gloves compulsory for children, but MPs may still debate the issue.
From BBC
The government had originally planned to make digital ID compulsory for everyone starting a new job - to prove their right to work in the UK.
From BBC
Hundreds of teenage Croatians have reported for compulsory military service – for the first time since their country scrapped the requirement in 2008.
From BBC
Though some schools, like Warton Primary School, may already have allergy plans in place, today's announcement means these precautions will be compulsory across all schools in England.
From BBC
But the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which is currently moving through Parliament, will require schools in England to reduce the number of compulsory branded items to three - plus a branded tie for secondary students.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
