mandate
8 synonyms and 1 antonym for mandate, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — An official order, command, or authorization to carry out a particular action.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use mandate
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
electoral mandate
mandate a policy
mandate compliance
seek a mandate
Etymology
From Latin mandatum ("a charge, order, commission"), from manus ("hand") + dare ("to put/give") — literally "put into someone's hands."
Full origin of mandate →Frequently asked questions
What does “mandate” mean?
The word “mandate” means an official order, command, or authorization to carry out a particular action. In plain terms, an official command, or the authority/permission to carry out an action, often granted through an election.
How do you pronounce “mandate”?
“Mandate” is pronounced MAN-dayt (/ˈmeə̯ndeɪ̯t/ in IPA).
How do you use “mandate” in a sentence?
Here is “mandate” used in a sentence: “The court issued a mandate requiring the company to pay damages.”
What part of speech is “mandate”?
Depending on how it is used, “mandate” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “mandate” come from?
The word “mandate” comes from Latin. From Latin mandatum ("a charge, order, commission"), from manus ("hand") + dare ("to put/give") — literally "put into someone's hands.".
Is “mandate” a common word?
“Mandate” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “mandate” have?
“Mandate” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an official order, command, or authorization to carry out a particular action.
What is the difference between a mandate and a law?
A mandate is an official order, command, or authorisation to carry out a particular action. A law is a formal rule created through legislation; a mandate may be backed by law but can also be an instruction or a grant of authority without being a full statute.
What is the difference between a mandate and an order?
An order is a direct command to do something, while a mandate carries an added sense of official authority or permission to act. A mandate can also mean the authority voters give an elected government, a meaning an ordinary order does not have.
What is the difference between mandate as a noun and as a verb?
As a noun, mandate is an official order or a grant of authority. As a verb, to mandate means to officially require something or to give someone the authority to do it, as in "the rules mandate safety checks."
