compulsory
Americanadjective
-
required; mandatory; obligatory.
compulsory education.
- Antonyms:
- voluntary
-
using compulsion; compelling; constraining.
compulsory measures to control rioting.
- Antonyms:
- voluntary
noun
plural
compulsoriesadjective
-
required by regulations or laws; obligatory
compulsory education
-
involving or employing compulsion; compelling; necessary; essential
Other Word Forms
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 Compulsory Measures Court in Wallis canton said in a statement it had duly "lifted the detention in custody" at a hearing on Friday.
From Barron's • Jan. 23, 2026
"Compulsory redundancies will always be the last resort and we want to continue to work in partnership to avoid them."
From BBC • Apr. 11, 2025
Compulsory voting is not unknown in this country.
From Salon • Dec. 31, 2024
Compulsory liquidations and administrations were lower than in 2019, the spokesman added.
From BBC • Jun. 13, 2023
Compulsory training should be organized in such a way as to pay particular attention to just this feature.
From Average Americans by Roosevelt, Theodore
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.
