requirement
Americannoun
-
something demanded or imposed as an obligation
Latin is no longer a requirement for entry to university
-
a thing desired or needed
-
the act or an instance of requiring
Usage
What does requirement mean? A requirement is something that’s mandatory or necessary—it’s something you need to have or need to do. Requirement is most often used in official contexts in which achieving a certain status requires you to perform certain actions or have certain things, such as documents. Example: By passing this class you have now met all of the basic requirements for your major and will be able to walk at graduation in May.
Synonym Usage
Requirement, requisite refer to that which is necessary. A requirement is some quality or performance demanded of a person in accordance with certain fixed regulations: requirements for admission to college. A requisite is not imposed from outside; it is a factor which is judged necessary according to the nature of things, or to the circumstances of the case: Efficiency is a requisite for success in business. Requisite may also refer to a concrete object judged necessary: the requisites for perfect grooming.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of requirement
Explanation
Necessary, inescapable, and non-negotiable, a requirement is something that must be done, like the dishes. Speaking politely to your grandparents may be a requirement of living in your parents' house. Requirements can be imposed by an authority. For example, in college, it is usually a requirement that you study math, English, and history, before you go on to get your degree in underwater basket weaving. We can also speak of the requirements of a living system: your body requires water to stay alive; light is a requirement of photosynthesis.
Vocabulary lists containing requirement
Academic Vocabulary Toolkit 1, Words 81-90
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Supreme Court healthcare ruling
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"Building Design and Construction Handbook," Vocabulary from Section 1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The work will be displayed flat - a requirement of the loan.
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
The termination follows a U.K. regulator’s requirement that Shutterstock sell its editorial business for the merger to be approved.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026
The requirement for extra investments comes at a time many traditional industries in Germany are struggling, with weak demand at home and growing competition in key export markets.
From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026
Its requirement that California be officially bilingual, with its official proceedings recorded in English and Spanish, was removed 30 years later.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026
The fuel requirement is nearly identical for the orbits and is well within the capacity of EagleEye's booster.
From "The Martian" by Andy Weir
The regents are scheduled to discuss the course requirements Wednesday in a public session.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
He also believes that new requirements to adhere to EU standards "is a challenge for anybody who is importing goods from the UK or anywhere else outside the EU".
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026
The main remaining hurdle is to meet European ownership requirements, but competition concerns look limited, they add.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
There are currently promotional rates up to 9% listed on CD Valet, some of which come with very specific conditions like minimum investments, residency requirements or membership restrictions.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 10, 2026
To satisfy Spanish legal requirements, Orellana made a show of resigning his temporary command rather than leave Gonzalo.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
