compulsory
kuhm-PUHL-suh-ree
Compulsory (adjective) means Required by a rule, law, or authority; mandatory. Example: “Wearing a seatbelt is compulsory in most countries.”
adjective
1
Required by a rule, law, or authority; mandatory.
"Some might agree that membership in the firm is perhaps more compulsory than membership in a municipality, but balk at applying the analogy to the nation."
— Ugo Pagano, Democracy and Efficiency in the Economic Enterprise (1996)
"I haven't booked, so I don't have a clue as to whether the service will be busy or not. Supposedly, reservations are compulsory, but I want to find out what would happen if you just turn up."
— Paul Bigland, My weirdest and wackiest Rover yet (2020)
"Wearing a seatbelt is compulsory in most countries."
"The ten-dollar fee was compulsory."
How to use compulsory
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething you must do, not optional.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
compulsory education
compulsory attendance
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Word forms
- Plural
- compulsories
- Comparative
- more compulsory
- Superlative
- most compulsory
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Wearing a seatbelt is _____ in most countries.
Etymology
From Late Latin compulsorius, from Latin compulsus — see "compulsion."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for compulsory
See all rhymes for compulsory →Frequently asked questions
What does “compulsory” mean?
The word “compulsory” means required by a rule, law, or authority; mandatory. In plain terms, something you must do, not optional.
How do you pronounce “compulsory”?
“Compulsory” is pronounced kuhm-PUHL-suh-ree (/kəmˈpʌlsəɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “compulsory” in a sentence?
Here is “compulsory” used in a sentence: “Wearing a seatbelt is compulsory in most countries.”
What is another word for “compulsory”?
Words with a similar meaning to “compulsory” include mandatory, binding, compulsatory, decretory, forced and imperative.
What is the opposite of “compulsory”?
The opposite of “compulsory” — its antonyms — are optional and voluntary.
What part of speech is “compulsory”?
“Compulsory” is an adjective.
Where does the word “compulsory” come from?
The word “compulsory” comes from Late Latin. From Late Latin compulsorius, from Latin compulsus — see "compulsion.".
Is “compulsory” a common word?
“Compulsory” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between "compulsory" and "mandatory"?
Both words describe something required by a rule, law, or authority, and in most contexts they are interchangeable. "Compulsory" is often used for things enforced by institutions such as schools or governments, like compulsory education, while "mandatory" appears slightly more often in legal, workplace, and procedural contexts.
What is the difference between "compulsory" and "obligatory"?
"Compulsory" stresses that a rule or authority forces the action, leaving no choice, while "obligatory" can also describe something expected due to social custom, duty, or politeness rather than formal enforcement. A compulsory course must be taken to graduate, whereas an obligatory thank-you note is expected by etiquette rather than law.
Can "compulsory" describe a voluntary activity?
No, by definition "compulsory" describes something required rather than optional, so it cannot logically describe a voluntary activity. If something is compulsory, a person or group has no choice but to comply with the rule, law, or authority that imposes it.
