obligatory

[uh-blig-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, ob-li-guh-]

adjective

1. required as a matter of obligation; mandatory.

   A reply is desirable but not obligatory.

2. incumbent or compulsory (usually followed by on orupon ).

   duties obligatory on all.

   Synonyms: imperative, necessary
   Antonyms: voluntary

3. imposing moral or legal obligation; binding.

   an obligatory promise.

4. creating or recording an obligation, as a document.

obligatory

/ ɒˈblɪɡətərɪ, -trɪ /

adjective

1. required to be done, obtained, possessed, etc

2. of the nature of or constituting an obligation

Other Word Forms

• obligatorily adverb
• obligatoriness noun
• nonobligatorily adverb
• nonobligatory adjective
• unobligatory adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of obligatory¹

1425–75; late Middle English < Late Latin obligātōrius binding, equivalent to Latin obligā ( re ) to bind ( obligate ) + -tōrius -tory ¹

Example Sentences

I didn’t find hope or inspiration within these pages — the book felt more like an obligatory postmortem with an already established conclusion.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

When Friedman said he believed in his players, it was not just an obligatory quote.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

After two years he left school for a year of obligatory military service in the Air Force.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Presumably the offer also includes the obligatory DoubleTree chocolate chip cookies upon check-in.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Recently, however, his obligatory ham and cheese toastie had been delivered to his room by a member of staff.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• compulsory 
• de rigueur 
• imperative 
• mandatory 
• requisite 
• unavoidable