noun
Common
mandate
MAN-dayt
Mandate (noun) means an official order, command, or authorization to carry out a particular action. Example: “The council received a mandate from the regulator to close the unsafe building.”
noun
1
An official order, command, or authorization to carry out a particular action.
"The council received a mandate from the regulator to close the unsafe building."
"Officials issued a mandate ordering all schools to review their fire procedures."
"The court issued a mandate requiring the company to pay damages."
2
The authority given to an elected leader or government by voters to pursue a policy.
"The new mayor said her big win gave her a clear mandate to improve local buses."
"The president claimed a strong mandate for tax reform after the election."
"Without a clear mandate, the new policy faced fierce opposition."
verb
1
To officially require something, or to give someone the authority to do it.
"The school mandates a uniform for every pupil from the first day."
"Voters mandated the committee to negotiate on their behalf."
"The law mandates that all new buildings include wheelchair access."
How to use mandate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn official command, or the authority/permission to carry out an action, often granted through an election.
Common pairings
electoral mandate
mandate a policy
mandate compliance
seek a mandate
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Word forms
- Plural
- mandates
- Third person singular
- mandates
- Past tense
- mandated
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The council received a _____ from the regulator to close the unsafe building.
Etymology
From Latin mandatum ("a charge, order, commission"), from manus ("hand") + dare ("to put/give") — literally "put into someone's hands."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for mandate
See all rhymes for 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."
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