compulsory

[kuhm-puhl-suh-ree]

adjective

1. required; mandatory; obligatory.

   compulsory education.

   Antonyms: voluntary

2. using compulsion; compelling; constraining.

   compulsory measures to control rioting.

   Antonyms: voluntary

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

/ kəmˈpʌlsərɪ /

adjective

1. required by regulations or laws; obligatory

   compulsory education

2. involving or employing compulsion; compelling; necessary; essential

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of compulsory¹

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

Example Sentences

The taskforce has recommended new towns are delivered by development corporations, which could have special planning powers to compulsory purchase land, invest in local services, and grant planning permission.

From BBC

There were two periods when we had compulsory ID cards here in Britain.

From BBC

Then, conveniently timed, the blizzard of headlines yesterday afternoon about the government's plans for compulsory digital ID.

From BBC

He is expected to announce plans for a compulsory UK-wide digital ID scheme in a speech on Friday, as part of Labour's push to address illegal immigration.

From BBC

The union said more than 250 positions at the university have already been lost this year through voluntary redundancies and a further 13 could be at risk through compulsory redundancies.

From BBC

Related Words

• de rigueur 
• forced 
• imperative 
• mandatory 
• obligatory 
• required www.thesaurus.com