compulsory

adjective

com·​pul·​so·​ry kəm-ˈpəl-sə-rē 

-ˈpəls-rē

1

: mandatory, enforced

compulsory retirement

2

: coercive, compelling

compulsory measures

compulsorily

kəm-ˈpəl-sə-rə-lē 

-ˈpəls-rə-

adverb

Synonyms of compulsory

• mandatory
• required
• incumbent
• necessary

Examples of compulsory in a Sentence

To free the mind and the heart from compulsory religious confession and observance was good for all three interested parties: the state, the church and the people. —Jon Meacham, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2009

So he wants a private life and no photographs and nobody to know his home address. I can dig it, I can relate to that (but, like he should try it when it's compulsory instead of a free-choice option). —Salman Rushdie, New York Times Book Review, 14 Jan. 1990

He began to resent the compulsory attendance at the boring factory meetings. —James Reston, Jr., Time, 28 Nov. 1988

compulsory retirement at age 70

Recent Examples on the Web

At a moment when national unity was viewed as essential to the war effort, the government argued that compulsory flag salutes promoted patriotism and social cohesion. —Joseph Andrew, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026

Have all these men forgotten that kissing someone outside a challenge is a little different from the semi-compulsory makeout games? —Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 12 June 2026

In contrast, Sanders’ American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act is compulsory, mandating a 50% equity transfer, with the government gaining voting shares, board representation, and revenues directed toward cash payments and public goods. —Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 9 June 2026

Loadholt responded that North Carolina’s age threshold for compulsory school attendance is 7 — an answer Cunningham pushed back on. —Mary Ramsey updated June 4, Charlotte Observer, 4 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French compulsorie "compelling, coercive," borrowed from Medieval Latin compulsōrius, derivative, with -tōrius, deverbal adjective suffix (originally forming derivatives from agent nouns ending in -tōr-, -tor) of Latin compellere "to drive together, force to go, force (to a view, course of action)" (with -s- from past participle compulsus) — more at compel

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

compulsory

adjective

com·​pul·​so·​ry kəm-ˈpəls-(ə-)rē 

1

: required by or as if by law

compulsory education

2

: having the power of forcing someone to do something

a compulsory law

Legal Definition

compulsory

adjective

com·​pul·​so·​ry kəm-ˈpəl-sə-rē 

1

: required or compelled by law : mandatory, obligatory

compulsory arbitration

compulsory insurance

specifically : required to be brought or asserted in a pleading because of having arisen from the transaction or occurrence that is the subject of litigation

a compulsory counterclaim

compulsory reconvention

compare elective, permissive

2

: using compulsion : compelling

compulsory measures

compulsorily

-sə-rə-lē 

adverb