compulsory
Americanadjective
-
required; mandatory; obligatory.
compulsory education.
- Antonyms:
- voluntary
-
using compulsion; compelling; constraining.
compulsory measures to control rioting.
- Antonyms:
- voluntary
noun
adjective
-
required by regulations or laws; obligatory
compulsory education
-
involving or employing compulsion; compelling; necessary; essential
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
compulsorinessnoun
-
noncompulsorilynessnoun
-
noncompulsoryadjective
-
quasi-compulsoryadjective
-
uncompulsoryadjective
-
compulsorilyadverb
-
noncompulsorilyadverb
-
quasi-compulsorilyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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
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.
Vocabulary lists containing compulsory
Night
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The Bill of Rights
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Grade 11, List 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.
The BBC will axe some programming and may impose compulsory redundancies to deliver hundreds of millions of pounds of previously announced savings, its new Director-General Matt Brittin told staff Wednesday.
From Barron's • Jun. 17, 2026
"Reductions of this scale inevitably mean some compulsory redundancies, though we will work hard to avoid this wherever we can," Brittin said, noting a growing number of voluntary redundancy windows were opening.
From Barron's • Jun. 17, 2026
"The move will also see compulsory training for teachers and a requirement for each school to have a dedicated allergy policy," said a spokesperson.
From BBC • Jun. 13, 2026
The Motability scheme - where certain disability benefits can be exchanged for a lease on a vehicle - had made the black boxes compulsory for new leaseholders, and all drivers aged under 30, in April.
From BBC • May 14, 2026
There, they picked the best from among thousands of teenage boys fulfilling their compulsory labor service.
From "Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
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.
