mandatory

American  

[man-duh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] / ˈmæn dəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /

adjective

1. authoritatively ordered; obligatory; compulsory.

   It is mandatory that all students take two years of math.

   Synonyms:

   exigent, requisite

2. pertaining to, of the nature of, or containing a command.

3. Law. permitting no option; not to be disregarded or modified.

   a mandatory clause.

4. having received a mandate, as a nation.

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noun

plural

mandatories

1. mandatary.

mandatory British  

/ ˈmændətərɪ, -trɪ /

adjective

1. having the nature or powers of a mandate

2. obligatory; compulsory

3. (of a state) having received a mandate over some territory

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noun

1. Also called: mandatary.  a person or state holding a mandate

Other Word Forms

• mandatorily adverb
• nonmandatory adjective
• unmandatory adjective

Etymology

Origin of mandatory

From the Late Latin word mandātōrius, dating back to 1655–65. See mandate, -tory ¹

Example Sentences

Most of the orders involved individuals apprehended in immigration sweeps who judges had decided weren’t subject to mandatory detention and should quickly be given a bond hearing or released.

From The Wall Street Journal

He wrote in a letter to ambassadors that all 193 member states had to honour their mandatory payments or fundamentally overhaul the organisation's financial rules to avoid collapse.

From BBC

The lawsuit states that both the IRS and Treasury Department "had a duty to safeguard and protect" such disclosures from being shared publicly but "failed to take such mandatory precautions".

From BBC

Once the deal has been completed, the joint venture will launch a mandatory tender offer for the remaining shares in CBA not held by Votorantim, it said.

From The Wall Street Journal

The winner will become mandatory challenger for the WBC belt held by undisputed bantamweight champion Cherneka Johnson.

From BBC

Related Words

• binding
• compulsory
• de rigueur
• essential
• forced
• imperative
• indispensable
• involuntary
• obligatory