mandatory

American  

[man-duh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] / ˈmæn dəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /

adjective

1. authoritatively ordered; obligatory; compulsory.

   It is mandatory that all students take two years of math.

   Synonyms:

   exigent, requisite

2. pertaining to, of the nature of, or containing a command.

3. Law. permitting no option; not to be disregarded or modified.

   a mandatory clause.

4. having received a mandate, as a nation.

---

noun

plural

mandatories

1. mandatary.

mandatory British  

/ ˈmændətərɪ, -trɪ /

adjective

1. having the nature or powers of a mandate

2. obligatory; compulsory

3. (of a state) having received a mandate over some territory

---

noun

1. Also called: mandatary.  a person or state holding a mandate

Other Word Forms

• mandatorily adverb
• nonmandatory adjective
• unmandatory adjective

Etymology

Origin of mandatory

From the Late Latin word mandātōrius, dating back to 1655–65. See mandate, -tory ¹

Explanation

In the US, attending school through the twelfth grade, driving on the right side of the road, and obtaining a social security number are all mandatory. The phrase "mandatory requirement" is redundant. A mandatory action is something that is required, obligatory, or compulsory. Like letting your Great Aunt Edna pinch your cheeks or passing gym to get your diploma. Mandatory is often used in opposition to optional. If you want to compete with the swim team at school, weeknight practices are mandatory, meaning you have to go, though the Saturday dawn swim practice remains optional, meaning it's up to you.

Example Sentences

He vacated his WBO title instead of facing Fabio Wardley, and may well choose to vacate his other belts too rather than face mandatory challengers in the future.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

Uber says that about 27% of a rider’s fare on average goes to mandatory insurance costs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

Instead, the WGA was able to expand access to AI information and require mandatory meetings if companies that develop artificial intelligence technology hope to license writers’ work to train generative AI systems.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

The mandatory minimum sentence is 10 years in prison.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

And in the late nineteenth century the Congress made its reading a mandatory ritual on Washington’s birthday.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Related Words

• binding
• compulsory
• de rigueur
• essential
• forced
• imperative
• indispensable
• involuntary
• obligatory