mandatory
Americanadjective
-
authoritatively ordered; obligatory; compulsory.
It is mandatory that all students take two years of math.
-
pertaining to, of the nature of, or containing a command.
-
Law. permitting no option; not to be disregarded or modified.
a mandatory clause.
-
having received a mandate, as a nation.
noun
adjective
-
having the nature or powers of a mandate
-
obligatory; compulsory
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(of a state) having received a mandate over some territory
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of mandatory
From the Late Latin word mandātōrius, dating back to 1655–65. See mandate, -tory 1
Explanation
In the US, attending school through the twelfth grade, driving on the right side of the road, and obtaining a social security number are all mandatory. The phrase "mandatory requirement" is redundant. A mandatory action is something that is required, obligatory, or compulsory. Like letting your Great Aunt Edna pinch your cheeks or passing gym to get your diploma. Mandatory is often used in opposition to optional. If you want to compete with the swim team at school, weeknight practices are mandatory, meaning you have to go, though the Saturday dawn swim practice remains optional, meaning it's up to you.
Vocabulary lists containing mandatory
List 2
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Twelve Angry Men
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All American Boys
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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.
Starbucks Korea shutting all stores for a mandatory history class.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 16, 2026
The chain would not confirm whether the new antisemitism training would be rolled out for all staff across all its hotels, and if it would be mandatory.
From BBC • Jun. 16, 2026
But this summer, they have become mandatory, regardless of temperature.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 13, 2026
Additional restrictions, including mandatory all-covering burqas "further undermine access to essential medical services and hinder the ability of female healthcare workers to provide care," MSF's statement read.
From Barron's • Jun. 11, 2026
Defecating and urinating there were mandatory, as human waste was used as fertilizer on the camp farm.
From "Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West" by Blaine Harden
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.
