requirement

[ri-kwahyuhr-muhnt]

noun

1. that which is required; a thing demanded or obligatory.

   One of the requirements of the job is accuracy.

2. an act or instance of requiring.

   Synonyms: claim, demand, directive, injunction, command, order

3. a need or necessity.

   to meet the requirements of daily life.

requirement

/ rɪˈkwaɪəmənt /

noun

1. something demanded or imposed as an obligation

   Latin is no longer a requirement for entry to university

2. a thing desired or needed

3. the act or an instance of requiring

Other Word Forms

• nonrequirement noun
• prerequirement noun
• superrequirement noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of requirement¹

First recorded in 1520–30; require + -ment

Idioms and Phrases

see meet the requirements.

Synonym Study

Requirement, requisite refer to that which is necessary. A requirement is some quality or performance demanded of a person in accordance with certain fixed regulations: requirements for admission to college. A requisite is not imposed from outside; it is a factor which is judged necessary according to the nature of things, or to the circumstances of the case: Efficiency is a requisite for success in business. Requisite may also refer to a concrete object judged necessary: the requisites for perfect grooming.

Example Sentences

The act streamlines requirements for new entrants to the country’s data-transmission industry, which SB Equities views could heighten competition.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The GLA figures come just weeks after ministers struck a deal with the mayor of London to slash affordability requirements for developers.

Read more on BBC

Family reunions are also subject to strict requirements, including a minimum age for both parents, language tests and guarantees of funds.

Read more on Barron's

"We will now commence the process of satisfying all outstanding requirements for Purdue to emerge from bankruptcy so that resources from the settlements can flow to communities across America as quickly as possible," he said.

Read more on Barron's

The financial reforms in the early 2000s fundamentally changed vendor financing practices, with enhanced disclosure requirements and more rigorous accounting standards.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• concern 
• condition 
• demand 
• need 
• obligation 
• precondition 
• prerequisite 
• provision 
• qualification 
• specification 
• stipulation 

When To Use

What does requirement mean?

A requirement is something that’s mandatory or necessary—it’s something you need to have or need to do.Requirement is most often used in official contexts in which achieving a certain status requires you to perform certain actions or have certain things, such as documents.Example: By passing this class you have now met all of the basic requirements for your major and will be able to walk at graduation in May.