man·da·to·ry
ˈman-də-ˌtȯr-ē 
1
: required by a law or rule : obligatory
the mandatory retirement age
2
: of, by, relating to, or holding a League of Nations mandate
plural mandatories
: one given a mandate
especially
: a nation holding a mandate from the League of Nations
Did you know?
Something mandatory is the result of a mandate or order, which usually comes in the form of a law, rule, or regulation. Today there seem to be a lot of these mandates, so mandatory seat belts, mandatory inspections for industries, and mandatory prison sentences for violent crimes are regularly in the news. But mandatory retirement at age 65, which used to be common, is now illegal in most cases.
Synonyms
Examples of mandatory in a Sentence
Adjective
Parents object to the mandatory nature of the shots—and the fact that their child's access to education hinges on compliance with the immunization regulations.
—
Alice Park, Time, 2 June 2008
In a move some are calling a "backdoor draft," the Pentagon has announced it will issue mandatory recalls to more than 5,600 Army troops for deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan.
—Nathaniel Frank, Washington Post, 12 July 2004
At the same time, the 1987 repeal of the Fairness Doctrine, which ended mandatory balanced coverage of politics, gave birth to talk radio, and the television universe splintered between the old networks and the new culture of cable gladiators in which opinion was more entertaining than information and cheaper to produce as well.
—Nancy Gibbs, Time, 27 Sept. 2004
the tests are mandatory for all students wishing to graduate
Alice Park, Time, 2 June 2008
In a move some are calling a "backdoor draft," the Pentagon has announced it will issue mandatory recalls to more than 5,600 Army troops for deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan.
—Nathaniel Frank, Washington Post, 12 July 2004
At the same time, the 1987 repeal of the Fairness Doctrine, which ended mandatory balanced coverage of politics, gave birth to talk radio, and the television universe splintered between the old networks and the new culture of cable gladiators in which opinion was more entertaining than information and cheaper to produce as well.
—Nancy Gibbs, Time, 27 Sept. 2004
the tests are mandatory for all students wishing to graduate
Recent Examples on the WebJonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2024
Additionally, companies often rely heavily on DEI practices such as mandatory diversity training or brief workshops with external consultants that actually depress the numbers of Black workers – and other workers of color – in leadership roles.
—Adia Harvey Wingfield, The Conversation, 11 Apr. 2024
This year’s roughly three-month session was marked by heated debate among GOP lawmakers over proposals to provide more funding for school facilities, implement mandatory minimum sentences for fentanyl crimes and endanger the University of Idaho’s planned purchase of the University of Phoenix.
—Ian Max Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 11 Apr. 2024
Such incidents reinforce the need for extra precaution when ships navigate near critical infrastructure, said Pandey of Massachusetts Maritime, who advocated for mandatory tug escorts regardless of the ship, its cargo or the port.
—USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
Traveling could mean pushing abortions later into pregnancy as people try to get appointments and potentially face mandatory waiting periods.
—CBS News, 11 Apr. 2024
The pitch calls for $10 billion in mandatory funding over the next decade to establish a new long Covid research program at the National Institutes of Health.
—Isabella Cueto, STAT, 11 Apr. 2024
In states where mandatory reporting practices are in place, parents like Puccio who take these medications are automatically reported for child abuse and neglect.
—Mira Cheng, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024
But the issue of the religious avoiding military service — mandatory for all Israeli citizens, men and women — added to his fury.
—Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024
Phil Wahba, Fortune, 25 Jan. 2024
India’s health ministry is holding mock drills to ensure that hospitals are prepared for a groundswell of COVID cases, the BBC reported Monday, noting that some states have again made mask-wearing in public mandatory.
—Erin Prater, Fortune Well, 14 Apr. 2023
The country’s health ministry is holding mock drills to ensure that hospitals are prepared for rising COVID cases, the BBC reported Monday, noting that some states have again made mask-wearing in public mandatory.
—Erin Prater, Fortune Well, 11 Apr. 2023
Sánchez’s decision to pass a law making board parity mandatory is aligned with a European Union directive issued last year, which demands that such laws be passed in the region by 2026.
—Rodrigo Orihuela, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2023
Tiny New Hampshire is shelling out almost $5million this year to offer the shot free to girls 11 to 18, and 24 other statesare considering making the vaccine mandatory, which suggests that 5 milliondoses is just the tip of the iceberg.
—Emily Saarman, Discover Magazine, 10 June 2017
Simson said that the commission could consider making a voluntary 15% gas demand reduction mandatory, with the EU so far averaging around a 10% cut compared with previous years.
—John Ainger, Bloomberg.com, 12 Oct. 2022
Bush then shared that she and Burton were told that Lenz had refused to do the photoshoot, making Bush’s participation mandatory.
—Edward Segarra, USA TODAY, 30 Nov. 2022
First, the rival World Boxing Association was first in line among the three sanctioning bodies for the Spence mandatory, with Lithuania’s Eimantas Stanionis – the WBA's secondary welterweight champion – positioned for the title shot.
—Lance Pugmire, USA TODAY, 9 Nov. 2022
Adjective
In an April 5 letter to Kobach’s office, Deputy Secretary of State Clay Barker, who is also the agency’s general counsel, wrote that absent a judicial directive – such as a warrant or injunction – the mandatory ballot destruction must occur.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2024
Additionally, companies often rely heavily on DEI practices such as mandatory diversity training or brief workshops with external consultants that actually depress the numbers of Black workers – and other workers of color – in leadership roles.
—Adia Harvey Wingfield, The Conversation, 11 Apr. 2024
This year’s roughly three-month session was marked by heated debate among GOP lawmakers over proposals to provide more funding for school facilities, implement mandatory minimum sentences for fentanyl crimes and endanger the University of Idaho’s planned purchase of the University of Phoenix.
—Ian Max Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 11 Apr. 2024
Such incidents reinforce the need for extra precaution when ships navigate near critical infrastructure, said Pandey of Massachusetts Maritime, who advocated for mandatory tug escorts regardless of the ship, its cargo or the port.
—USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
Traveling could mean pushing abortions later into pregnancy as people try to get appointments and potentially face mandatory waiting periods.
—CBS News, 11 Apr. 2024
The pitch calls for $10 billion in mandatory funding over the next decade to establish a new long Covid research program at the National Institutes of Health.
—Isabella Cueto, STAT, 11 Apr. 2024
In states where mandatory reporting practices are in place, parents like Puccio who take these medications are automatically reported for child abuse and neglect.
—Mira Cheng, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024
But the issue of the religious avoiding military service — mandatory for all Israeli citizens, men and women — added to his fury.
—Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024
Noun
In his first year, Risher cut 30% of Lyft’s workforce, introduced new features like one that matches women passengers and women drivers, and made returning to the office mandatory.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 25 Jan. 2024
India’s health ministry is holding mock drills to ensure that hospitals are prepared for a groundswell of COVID cases, the BBC reported Monday, noting that some states have again made mask-wearing in public mandatory.
—Erin Prater, Fortune Well, 14 Apr. 2023
The country’s health ministry is holding mock drills to ensure that hospitals are prepared for rising COVID cases, the BBC reported Monday, noting that some states have again made mask-wearing in public mandatory.
—Erin Prater, Fortune Well, 11 Apr. 2023
Sánchez’s decision to pass a law making board parity mandatory is aligned with a European Union directive issued last year, which demands that such laws be passed in the region by 2026.
—Rodrigo Orihuela, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2023
Tiny New Hampshire is shelling out almost $5million this year to offer the shot free to girls 11 to 18, and 24 other statesare considering making the vaccine mandatory, which suggests that 5 milliondoses is just the tip of the iceberg.
—Emily Saarman, Discover Magazine, 10 June 2017
Simson said that the commission could consider making a voluntary 15% gas demand reduction mandatory, with the EU so far averaging around a 10% cut compared with previous years.
—John Ainger, Bloomberg.com, 12 Oct. 2022
Bush then shared that she and Burton were told that Lenz had refused to do the photoshoot, making Bush’s participation mandatory.
—Edward Segarra, USA TODAY, 30 Nov. 2022
First, the rival World Boxing Association was first in line among the three sanctioning bodies for the Spence mandatory, with Lithuania’s Eimantas Stanionis – the WBA's secondary welterweight champion – positioned for the title shot.
—Lance Pugmire, USA TODAY, 9 Nov. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mandatory.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near mandatory
Cite this Entry
“Mandatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mandatory. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
mandatory
adjective
man·da·to·ry
ˈman-də-ˌtȯr-ē
: containing or constituting a command : being obligatory
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