obligatory

American  

[uh-blig-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, ob-li-guh-] / əˈblɪg əˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i, ˈɒb lɪ gə- /

adjective

1. required as a matter of obligation; mandatory.

   A reply is desirable but not obligatory.

2. incumbent or compulsory (usually followed by on orupon ).

   duties obligatory on all.

   Synonyms:

   imperative, necessary

   Antonyms:

   voluntary

3. imposing moral or legal obligation; binding.

   an obligatory promise.

4. creating or recording an obligation, as a document.

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obligatory British  

/ ɒˈblɪɡətərɪ, -trɪ /

adjective

1. required to be done, obtained, possessed, etc

2. of the nature of or constituting an obligation

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Other Word Forms

• nonobligatorily adverb
• nonobligatory adjective
• obligatorily adverb
• obligatoriness noun
• unobligatory adjective

Etymology

Origin of obligatory

1425–75; late Middle English < Late Latin obligātōrius binding, equivalent to Latin obligā ( re ) to bind ( obligate ) + -tōrius -tory ¹

Example Sentences

You, of course, get the obligatory in-tunnel DNS servers along with a kill switch to prevent data leaks.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026

She’s been with the company since and holds onto memories of touring and the obligatory “company meetings” that Berkett turned into surprise birthday celebrations for the dancers.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2026

Helmets are obligatory for those being carried - fancy dress is expected.

From BBC • Mar. 6, 2026

Last month, the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice said it was now "obligatory" to grow beards longer than a fist, doubling down on an earlier order.

From Barron's • Feb. 19, 2026

I heard the officer, his voice tired and uninterested, asking his obligatory questions.

From "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini

Related Words

• compulsory
• de rigueur
• imperative
• mandatory
• requisite
• unavoidable