compulsory

adjective

com·​pul·​so·​ry kəm-ˈpəls-rē 

-ˈpəl-sə-

1

: mandatory, enforced

compulsory retirement

2

: coercive, compelling

compulsory measures

compulsorily

kəm-ˈpəls-rə-lē 

-ˈpəl-sə-

adverb

Synonyms

• forced
• imperative
• incumbent
• involuntary
• mandatory
• necessary
• nonelective
• obligatory
• peremptory
• required

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

The report highlights countries like Brazil and Colombia for undermining patent rights through compulsory licensing misuse, unreasonable patentability standards and delays in granting or enforcing patents. —Scott Suckow, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2025

Cases of soldiers missing for decades have a powerful emotional and political resonance in Israel, where military service is compulsory for most Jewish men. —Wafaa Shurafa, Christian Science Monitor, 11 May 2025

Having this sort of media day is not compulsory — Madrid almost never do it when in the same sort of situation — but Barca arrange them as a gesture ahead of one of their biggest two league matches of a season, but also for financial reasons. —Pol Ballús, New York Times, 11 May 2025

When manufacturers refuse, they are locked out of the market entirely and risk patent theft through compulsory licensing. —Sally Pipes, Forbes.com, 3 May 2025

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