compulsory

American  

[kuhm-puhl-suh-ree] / kəmˈpʌl sə ri /

adjective

1. required; mandatory; obligatory.

   compulsory education.

   Antonyms:

   voluntary

2. using compulsion; compelling; constraining.

   compulsory measures to control rioting.

   Antonyms:

   voluntary

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noun

compulsories plural

1. something, as an athletic feat, that must be performed or completed as part of a contest or competition.

   The ice skater received a higher score on the compulsories than on her freestyle performance.

compulsory British  

/ kəmˈpʌlsərɪ /

adjective

1. required by regulations or laws; obligatory

   compulsory education

2. involving or employing compulsion; compelling; necessary; essential

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• compulsoriness
  noun
• noncompulsorilyness
  noun
• noncompulsory
  adjective
• quasi-compulsory
  adjective
• uncompulsory
  adjective
• compulsorily
  adverb
• noncompulsorily
  adverb
• quasi-compulsorily
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• compulsories
  plural

Etymology

Origin of compulsory

1510–20; < Medieval Latin compulsōrius, equivalent to Latin compul-, variant stem of compellere ( see compel) + -sōrius, for -tōrius -tory ¹; cf. compulsive

Explanation

When something is compulsory, it is required or must be done. In most states, it's compulsory for kids to attend school (or an equivalent homeschool) from age six to seventeen. This adjective is from Medieval Latin compulsorius, "using force," from Classical Latin compellere, "to force." The Latin suffix –orius corresponds to English -ory, "containing or involving." Other English words descended from the same Latin verb are compel and compulsive.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

compulsory compulsories

He did not specify what he wants to replace it, but he and BBC chair Samir Shah suggested the government should reconsider a compulsory household levy, which it previously ruled out.

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

Everllence’s German sites will be retained under the new structure until at least the end of 2030 and compulsory redundancies will be ruled out during this period.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026

Voluntary brigades worked alongside those forced into compulsory service.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 21, 2026

"Reductions of this scale inevitably mean some compulsory redundancies, though we will work hard to avoid this wherever we can," Brittin said, noting a growing number of voluntary redundancy windows were opening.

From Barron's ● Jun. 17, 2026

Levels four, five, and six were the compulsory levels.

From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles

What made these compulsories different was the manner in which the two-time defending world champions went through it.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 27, 2021

The synchronized divers must still perform them, however — compulsories are the first two dives the pairs do.

From Washington Post ● Aug. 19, 2016

Jan Hoffmann of East Germany won the 1974 men’s world singles championship at Munich, but Cranston, who was too far behind after the compulsories to finish better than third, thrilled the 8,000 spectators.

From New York Times ● Jan. 25, 2015

But if the ISU wants to be that literal-minded, it might as well bring back compulsories.

From Slate ● Feb. 21, 2014

“I like everything to be neat and tidy and symmetrical,” Scott said in reflecting on the exactness of her compulsories.

From New York Times ● Oct. 1, 2012

Related Words

• de rigueur
• forced
• imperative
• mandatory
• obligatory
• required