mandatory

/ˈmæn.də.tɔːr.i/ formal

Say it: MAN-duh-tor-ee

adjective Required by a law, rule, or other authority; compulsory and not optional.
Attendance at the annual safety briefing is mandatory for all factory personnel.

📖 Seen in the wild

Attendance at the safety briefing is mandatory for all new employees.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ mandatory in a sentence

The new legislation imposes mandatory minimum sentences for certain drug offenses.
Is this meeting actually mandatory, or can I send my notes instead?
Many countries have mandatory military service for young adults.
The city introduced mandatory recycling to reduce landfill waste.
A mandatory background check is the final step in our hiring process.
The software update includes several mandatory security patches.
Unlike in other states, kindergarten is not mandatory here.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

compulsory required obligatory imperative requisite incumbent necessary

compulsory · often implies a system-wide rule, like for education or military service.

required · a more general term for anything necessary, not always because of a formal rule.

obligatory · suggests a moral or legal duty arising from a specific situation or social convention.

imperative · stresses absolute necessity and urgency, often in a more abstract or strategic sense.

Opposites: optional, voluntary, discretionary, elective

🌱 Where it comes from

The word comes from the Latin 'mandatum', meaning 'something commanded'. This itself is from 'mandare', 'to command' or 'to entrust', which breaks down into 'manus' (hand) and 'dare' (to give). So, at its root, something mandatory is an order that has been 'given into your hands'.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

mandatory trainingmandatory minimum sentencemandatory reportingmake something mandatorymandatory retirement age

'Mandatory' is a strong, formal word that indicates a requirement is backed by an official rule or law. It is stricter than 'required', which can simply mean necessary for a task. Be careful not to confuse it with 'essential'; something can be essential for success (like good communication) without being officially mandatory. Because it is an absolute state, avoid modifying it with adverbs like 'very' or 'highly'.

Word family: mandate, mandatorily

💬 Quick answers

What does 'mandatory' mean?

It means something is required by a law, rule, or authority. It is not optional and you must do it.

What is the difference between 'mandatory' and 'required'?

'Mandatory' is more formal and specifically implies that a rule or law is the source of the obligation. 'Required' is a broader term for anything that is necessary, whether due to a rule or simply the circumstances.

Is 'mandatory' a formal word?

Yes, 'mandatory' is a formal word typically used in official, legal, and professional settings. In casual conversation, people often say 'have to' or 'required' instead.

Can something be 'highly mandatory'?

No, this is redundant. Something is either mandatory or it is not. There are no degrees of being mandatory.

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