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

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 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

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

Etymology

Origin of compulsory

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

Example Sentences

But the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which is currently moving through Parliament, will require schools in England to reduce the number of compulsory branded items to three - plus a branded tie for secondary students.

From BBC

It is now compulsory for Year 7 and 8 pupils at Alderbrook School, Solihull, to lock away their devices at the start of the day, after a voluntary scheme began last year.

From BBC

If the military still falls short of its manpower needs, politicians say, they may resort to compulsory military service, which was suspended in 2011.

From The Wall Street Journal

The International Skating Union eliminated compulsory figures — the circular patterns skaters traced across the ice to display mastery of basic techniques and turns — in 1990.

From Los Angeles Times

A BBC investigation has found that sepsis awareness training remains a lottery in Wales and is still not compulsory at Wales' largest hospital, the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, where Bethan died.

From BBC

Related Words

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