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Showing results for mandatory. Search instead for mandatorily.
Synonyms

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.


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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Having played in all of England's Six Nations games this season, Chessum will have a mandatory week off at some point in the next three.

From BBC

While stressing that it did not expect to take full control, UniCredit said it would raise its stake in Germany's second-biggest bank to more than 30 percent, triggering a mandatory takeover offer under German law.

From Barron's

"Maybe that should be mandatory in all hotels, so that you remove a little bit more of the risk," she said.

From BBC

She says there needs to be mandatory training for managers so they understand how to support employees living with conditions like endometriosis.

From BBC

With 15 technical fouls, he is just one away from a mandatory one-game suspension.

From Los Angeles Times