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

• compulsories
  plural

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

Derived Forms

• compulsoriness
  noun
• noncompulsorilyness
  noun
• noncompulsory
  adjective
• quasi-compulsory
  adjective
• uncompulsory
  adjective
• compulsorily
  adverb
• noncompulsorily
  adverb
• quasi-compulsorily
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• compulsories
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of compulsory

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

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Explanation

When something is compulsory, it is required or must be done. In most states, it's compulsory for kids to attend school (or an equivalent homeschool) from age six to seventeen. This adjective is from Medieval Latin compulsorius, "using force," from Classical Latin compellere, "to force." The Latin suffix –orius corresponds to English -ory, "containing or involving." Other English words descended from the same Latin verb are compel and compulsive.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

compulsory compulsories

At present, the legal age until which education is compulsory is 16.

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026

Since then, the university has investigated the “Cornell Seven”—the seven frat brothers directly involved—and imposed discipline ranging from expulsion to compulsory essay writing.

From Slate ● Oct. 9, 2026

Voting is compulsory for most Brazilian adults, though the fine for failing to do so costs less than the price of a city bus ride.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

"While voluntary measures remain our preferred approach, we cannot rule out compulsory redundancies if the required savings are not achieved," they said.

From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026

The historians and the scientists at Cambridge shared a common education: Latin was a compulsory entrance requirement.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

What made these compulsories different was the manner in which the two-time defending world champions went through it.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 27, 2021

The synchronized divers must still perform them, however — compulsories are the first two dives the pairs do.

From Washington Post ● Aug. 19, 2016

Jan Hoffmann of East Germany won the 1974 men’s world singles championship at Munich, but Cranston, who was too far behind after the compulsories to finish better than third, thrilled the 8,000 spectators.

From New York Times ● Jan. 25, 2015

But if the ISU wants to be that literal-minded, it might as well bring back compulsories.

From Slate ● Feb. 21, 2014

“I like everything to be neat and tidy and symmetrical,” Scott said in reflecting on the exactness of her compulsories.

From New York Times ● Oct. 1, 2012

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Related Words

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

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