Mandatory — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈman-də-ˌtȯr-ē/ man·da·to·ry

Meaning & Definition of Mandatory

Mandatory (adjective)

  1. required by a law or rule, obligatory
  2. of, by, relating to, or holding a League of Nations mandate

Mandatory (noun)

  1. one given a mandate; especially, a nation holding a mandate from the League of Nations

Mandatory (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. forcing one's compliance or participation by or as if by law

    "the tests are mandatory for all students wishing to graduate"

    similar: compulsory, forced, imperative, incumbent, involuntary, necessary, nonelective, obligatory, peremptory, required
    related: all-important, essential, indispensable, needed, requisite, insistent, persistent, pressing, urgent, demanded, enforced, coercive
    opposite: elective, optional, voluntary
    near: chosen, discretionary, dispensable, unnecessary, unneeded, unwanted, inconsequential, insignificant, nonessential, unimportant

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Mandatory

The most common words with a similar meaning to Mandatory:

compulsory, forced, imperative, incumbent, involuntary, necessary, nonelective, obligatory, peremptory, required

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Mandatory

Words with the opposite meaning of Mandatory:

elective, optional, voluntary

Related Words for Mandatory

all-important, essential, indispensable, needed, requisite, insistent, persistent, pressing, urgent, demanded, enforced, coercive

Near Antonyms of Mandatory

chosen, discretionary, dispensable, unnecessary, unneeded, unwanted, inconsequential, insignificant, nonessential, unimportant

Word Forms of Mandatory

Inflections: mandatories

Derived words: mandatorily (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Mandatory

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Mandatory

Frequently Asked Questions about Mandatory

What does "Mandatory" mean?

"Mandatory" means required by a law or rule, obligatory. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: required by a law or rule, obligatory.

What is another word for "Mandatory"?

Other words for "Mandatory" include compulsory, forced, imperative, incumbent, involuntary, necessary, nonelective and obligatory. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Mandatory" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Mandatory"?

There are 22 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Mandatory". Common alternatives include compulsory, forced, imperative, incumbent, involuntary, necessary, nonelective, obligatory, peremptory and required.

What is the opposite of "Mandatory"?

Antonyms of "Mandatory" include elective, optional and voluntary. Near antonyms include chosen, discretionary, dispensable and unnecessary.

How do you use "Mandatory" in a sentence?

Examples of "Mandatory" in a sentence: "the tests are mandatory for all students wishing to graduate".

Is "Mandatory" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Mandatory" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Mandatory" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Mandatory" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Mandatory"?

"Mandatory" is pronounced /ˈman-də-ˌtȯr-ē/ and divided into syllables as man·da·to·ry.