compulsory

American  

[kuhm-puhl-suh-ree] / kəmˈpʌl sə ri /

adjective

1. required; mandatory; obligatory.

   compulsory education.

   Antonyms:

   voluntary

2. using compulsion; compelling; constraining.

   compulsory measures to control rioting.

   Antonyms:

   voluntary

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noun

plural

compulsories

1. something, as an athletic feat, that must be performed or completed as part of a contest or competition.

   The ice skater received a higher score on the compulsories than on her freestyle performance.

compulsory British  

/ kəmˈpʌlsərɪ /

adjective

1. required by regulations or laws; obligatory

   compulsory education

2. involving or employing compulsion; compelling; necessary; essential

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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

Widely lauded as the biggest boy band in the world, BTS went on hiatus in 2022 so the group's seven members could serve compulsory stints in the South Korean military.

From Barron's

They want to impose compulsory physical attendance and voting, doing away with the current "hybrid" arrangement dating from the pandemic which lets members dial in remotely.

From BBC

The Saturday night gig, which is expected to draw around 260,000 people, will be BTS's first after a hiatus of almost four years while all seven members served compulsory military service.

From Barron's

The most important thing "is compulsory schooling up to age 16," the director said.

From Barron's

“No, I wouldn’t say it’s compulsory,” Mr. Andrews says lightly.

From Literature

Related Words

• de rigueur
• forced
• imperative
• mandatory
• obligatory
• required