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Synonyms

requirement

American  
[ri-kwahyuhr-muhnt] / rɪˈkwaɪər mənt /

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 British  
/ 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

"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

requirement Idioms  

Usage

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.

Related Words

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.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of requirement

First recorded in 1520–30; require + -ment

Explanation

Necessary, inescapable, and non-negotiable, a requirement is something that must be done, like the dishes. Speaking politely to your grandparents may be a requirement of living in your parents' house. Requirements can be imposed by an authority. For example, in college, it is usually a requirement that you study math, English, and history, before you go on to get your degree in underwater basket weaving. We can also speak of the requirements of a living system: your body requires water to stay alive; light is a requirement of photosynthesis.

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Vocabulary lists containing requirement

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.

Funded by the insurers doing business in California, the Fair Access to Insurance Requirement plan provides a limited policy as a fallback for property owners unable to find conventional coverage they can afford.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 15, 2024

Another welcomed feature of the game is the inclusion of the Room of Requirement.

From Washington Times • Mar. 13, 2023

"Requirement for next CEO: find a way to explain Twitter to actual human beings."

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2015

A lower federal court found that the Display of Real-Time View Requirement violated physicians’ First Amendment rights to free speech, and today the higher panel agreed.

From Slate • Dec. 22, 2014

“That’s right,” said Luna encouragingly, as if they were back in the Room of Requirement and this was simply spell practice for the D.A.

From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling

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