definitions
  • synonyms

compulsory

[ kuhm-puhl-suh-ree ]
/ kəmˈpʌl sə ri /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR compulsory ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

required; mandatory; obligatory: compulsory education.
using compulsion; compelling; constraining: compulsory measures to control rioting.

noun, plural com·pul·so·ries.

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.

RELATED WORDS

forced, mandatory, required, obligatory, imperative, imperious, necessary, requisite

Nearby words

comptroller of the currency, compulsion, compulsive, compulsive personality, compulsively, compulsory, compulsory purchase, compunction, compunctious, compurgation, compurgator

Origin of compulsory

1510–20; < Medieval Latin compulsōrius, equivalent to Latin compul-, variant stem of compellere (see compel) + -sōrius, for -tōrius -tory1; cf. compulsive
ANTONYMS FOR compulsory
1, 2 voluntary.
SEE MORE ANTONYMS FOR compulsory ON THESAURUS.COM
Related forms
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for compulsory

British Dictionary definitions for compulsory

compulsory

/ (kəmˈpʌlsərɪ) /

adjective

required by regulations or laws; obligatorycompulsory education
involving or employing compulsion; compelling; necessary; essential
Derived Formscompulsorily, adverbcompulsoriness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for compulsory

compulsory

adj.

1580s, from Medieval Latin compulsorius, from Latin compulsus, past participle of compellere (see compel).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper