compulsory
- required; mandatory; obligatory: compulsory education.
- using compulsion; compelling; constraining: compulsory measures to control rioting.
- 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.
Origin of compulsory
Antonyms for compulsory
Related Words for compulsory
forced, mandatory, required, obligatory, imperative, imperious, necessary, requisiteExamples from the Web for compulsory
Contemporary Examples of compulsory
They had three years together before Ziad left to do his compulsory military service, leaving on her birthday, April 4, 2001.
It is compulsory to note in every Kansas story that “the race may decide who controls the Senate.”
Compulsory dues translate into many tens of millions of dollars in political contributions to Democrats.
Education, while highly regarded here, is only compulsory through middle school.
Crop insurance does not cover losses of livestock, but it is compulsory for most farmers.
Midwest Drought Forces South Dakota Farmers and Ranchers to Abandon Crops and Thin HerdsBarbie Latza Nadeau
August 5, 2012
Historical Examples of compulsory
By it a national and compulsory system of education was established for the first time.
The Grand Old ManRichard B. Cook
A child has a right to finality as regards its compulsory lessons.
A Treatise on Parents and ChildrenGeorge Bernard Shaw
No; your pride had placed them beyond your compulsory power.
The Works of Whittier, Volume VI (of VII)John Greenleaf Whittier
What advantage do we offer to the former for their compulsory thrift?
FreelandTheodor Hertzka
He missed his compulsory morning shower, a miss which did not distress him greatly.
The PortygeeJoseph Crosby Lincoln
compulsory
- required by regulations or laws; obligatorycompulsory education
- involving or employing compulsion; compelling; necessary; essential
Word Origin and History for compulsory
1580s, from Medieval Latin compulsorius, from Latin compulsus, past participle of compellere (see compel).