requirement

[ ri-kwahyuhr-muhnt ]

noun

1. that which is required; a thing demanded or obligatory:

   One of the requirements of the job is accuracy.

2. an act or instance of requiring.

   Synonyms: claim, demand, directive, injunction, command, order

3. a need or necessity:

   to meet the requirements of daily life.

requirement

/ rɪˈkwaɪəmənt /

noun

1. something demanded or imposed as an obligation

   Latin is no longer a requirement for entry to university

2. a thing desired or needed
3. the act or an instance of requiring

Other Words From

• nonre·quirement noun
• prere·quirement noun
• super·re·quirement noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of requirement¹

First recorded in 1520–30; require + -ment

Idioms and Phrases

see meet the requirements .

Synonym Study

Requirement, requisite refer to that which is necessary. A requirement is some quality or performance demanded of a person in accordance with certain fixed regulations: requirements for admission to college. A requisite is not imposed from outside; it is a factor which is judged necessary according to the nature of things, or to the circumstances of the case: Efficiency is a requisite for success in business. Requisite may also refer to a concrete object judged necessary: the requisites for perfect grooming.

Example Sentences

While it's possible that an exporter in a foreign country compensates the importer for these taxes — such as via rebates or lower prices — there's no requirement to do so.

From Salon

He said California law requires that school-age students receive education on the contributions of queer people and people of color, and Java’s “trailblazing fight for her labor rights” in the 1960s fits the requirement perfectly.

From Los Angeles Times

This flexibility could allow for reduced electrical requirements for the heating system or load shifting to times when electricity is less expensive and/or cleaner.

From Science Daily

In fact, lawmakers passed and the governor signed legislation to do away with the work requirement this year, but it was contingent on voter approval of Proposition 6.

From Los Angeles Times

In any contest to name the cruelest and most useless healthcare “reform” favored by Republicans and conservatives, it would be hard to beat the idea of applying work requirements to Medicaid.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• concern
• condition
• demand
• need
• obligation
• precondition
• prerequisite
• provision
• qualification
• specification
• stipulation

More About Requirement

What does requirement mean?

A requirement is something that’s mandatory or necessary—it’s something you need to have or need to do.

Requirement is most often used in official contexts in which achieving a certain status requires you to perform certain actions or have certain things, such as documents.

Example: By passing this class you have now met all of the basic requirements for your major and will be able to walk at graduation in May.

Where does requirement come from?

The first records of requirement come from the 1500s. It is the noun form of the verb require, which is first recorded in the 1300s and comes from the Latin requīrere, meaning “to seek to know.” The suffix -ment is used to turn it into a noun.

If something is a requirement, it is not optional. Requirements typically must be fulfilled before you can complete something, reach a certain status, or move on to a next step. Many high schools and universities have official graduation requirements, which are usually particular classes that students need to take and projects they need to complete in order to be eligible to graduate. Job requirements are the qualifications that employers require you to have to be hired for a certain position. Each nation has its own citizenship requirements, which can include a variety of things, but often include official documents as well as specific knowledge about the country.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to requirement?

• require (verb)
• nonrequirement (noun)
• prerequirement (noun)
• superrequirement (noun)

What are some synonyms for requirement?

• obligation
• demand
• necessity

What are some words that share a root or word element with requirement? 

 

• requisite
• acquire
• inquire

What are some words that often get used in discussing requirement?

 

• need
• qualification
• application
• condition
• criteria

How is requirement used in real life?

Requirement is typically used in situations when something is needed to gain an official status, such as to become a graduate, citizen, or employee.

OTD #1794 Senate votes 14-12 to expel Albert Gallatin for not meeting nine-year citizenship requirement.

Gallatin later became a US Representative, Treasury Secretary & diplomat #ChronAm https://t.co/PqJKDM1MmO pic.twitter.com/s4uUhmlzhj

— Library of Congress (@librarycongress) February 28, 2018

why is having a car a requirement for so many full time jobs like ?? I don’t have money for a car ?? that’s kind of why I need this job

— 𝗋𝖺𝗇⁷ ✧ (@chansdinosaur) March 9, 2020

Genuinely wish one year of shop class, half a year of auto shop class, one year of home economics, and one half year of Excel had been high school graduation requirements.

— Lethality Jane (@sgtjanedoe) September 30, 2019

 

 

Try using requirement!

Which of the following words is least likely to describe a requirement?

A. mandatory
B. necessary
C. optional
D. essential