adjective

compulsory

kuhm-PUHL-suh-ree

adjective

Required by a rule, law, or authority; mandatory.

"Wearing a seatbelt is compulsory in most countries."

How to Use Compulsory

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomething you must do, not optional.

Easily confused with

compulsive →

Common pairings

compulsory education compulsory attendance

more compulsory comparative, compulsories plural, most compulsory superlative

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Wearing a seatbelt is _____ in most countries.

From Late Latin compulsorius, from Latin compulsus — see "compulsion."

mandatory binding compulsatory decretory forced imperative involuntary obligatory nonoptional required unbewised unvoluntary

optional voluntary

imperative involuntary conscious unnecessary obligatory binding voluntary intentional

Cory Tory gory dory Rory sory ivory glory story Amory Emory theory

mandatory binding compulsatory decretory forced imperative involuntary obligatory nonoptional required unbewised unvoluntary