compulsory

adjective

com·​pul·​so·​ry kəm-ˈpəls-rē How to pronounce compulsory (audio)
-ˈpəl-sə-
1
: mandatory, enforced
compulsory retirement
2
: coercive, compelling
compulsory measures
compulsorily
kəm-ˈpəls-rə-lē How to pronounce compulsory (audio)
-ˈpəl-sə-
adverb

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 This includes a compulsory 4 hours in ethics approved by the board, alongside a mix of credits in accounting, auditing, financial advisory, and other pertinent areas. Bryce Welker, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2024 The cash component could be increased to as much as A$1.70, bringing total compensation to A$6.25 per share if the acceptances reach the 90.6% compulsory takeover threshold, Seven Group said. Yessar Rosendar, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024 For example, regulations like PCI-DSS, CCPA and HIPAA require compulsory training of employees on security best practices. Stu Sjouwerman, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 Harvard must produce the remaining documents in a timely manner, or risk compulsory measures. Arthur Jones Ii, ABC News, 24 Jan. 2024 Educational Prerequisites Florida: Demands 150 semester hours, including 36 hours in advanced accounting and 39 in business, with a compulsory course on the Uniform Commercial Code. Bryce Welker, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2024 The state Legislature responded to the outbreaks and a federal call to make immunization a priority with its first modern compulsory vaccine law in 1978. Brandy Zadrozny, NBC News, 16 Dec. 2023 His aspirations come at a time when ultra-Orthodox Jews face increasing resentment from a larger, secular society over religious school subsidies and other benefits, including exemption from compulsory military service for Torah students. Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2024 The Mechanical Licensing Collective (the MLC) has issued notices of intent to audit all digital service providers (DSPs) that operate under the compulsory blanket license administered by the MLC since its inception in 2021. Kristin Robinson, Billboard, 18 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'compulsory.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of compulsory was in 1581

Dictionary Entries Near compulsory

Cite this Entry

“Compulsory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compulsory. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

compulsory

adjective
com·​pul·​so·​ry kəm-ˈpəls-(ə-)rē How to pronounce compulsory (audio)
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 How to pronounce compulsory (audio)
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 adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on compulsory

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