obligatory

American  

[uh-blig-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, ob-li-guh-] / əˈblɪg əˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i, ˈɒb lɪ gə- /

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.

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obligatory British  

/ ɒˈblɪɡətərɪ, -trɪ /

adjective

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

2. of the nature of or constituting an obligation

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of obligatory

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

Example Sentences

The Cecchettin Foundation wants them to be obligatory and start early, when young people get access to the internet.

From BBC

"And save for filmmakers' obligatory thank you to the Pentagon in the credits," argued Sirota, "audiences are rarely aware that they may be watching government-subsidized propaganda."

From Salon

And there is finally a gay love affair in the “Bridgerton” franchise, perhaps in response to criticisms that the series lacked a same-sex relationship, but the subplot does not feel engineered or obligatory.

From Los Angeles Times

She is not meant to displace Queen Camilla and it is not obligatory that the new king takes her, but she will be offered.

From BBC

Singing is not obligatory, but you can join in — just not with the away team’s songs.

From Washington Post

Related Words

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