compulsory

[kuhm-puhl-suh-ree]

adjective

1. required; mandatory; obligatory.

   compulsory education.

   Antonyms: voluntary

2. using compulsion; compelling; constraining.

   compulsory measures to control rioting.

   Antonyms: voluntary

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

/ kəmˈpʌlsərɪ /

adjective

1. required by regulations or laws; obligatory

   compulsory education

2. 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of compulsory¹

1510–20; < Medieval Latin compulsōrius, equivalent to Latin compul-, variant stem of compellere ( compel ) + -sōrius, for -tōrius -tory ¹; compulsive

Example Sentences

Officiating technology, which covers all court lines for 'out' calls, has been compulsory at all ATP events from the start of the year.

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The government's plan to introduce compulsory digital ID for people to prove their right to work in the UK has seen more than 2.8 million people signing a petition against the idea.

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English is used as the language of instruction for most subjects nationwide at secondary schools, with Arabic the only other compulsory second language taught at the moment.

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Matthew Gould, chief executive of ZSL, has said he could not rule out future compulsory redundancies but "is doing everything possible" to avoid them.

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It will not, however, be compulsory to carry your ID on a day-to-day basis.

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Related Words

• de rigueur 
• forced 
• imperative 
• mandatory 
• obligatory 
• required www.thesaurus.com