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

Inomata and his colleagues also believe that the site would have been built by willing participants, not compulsory labor used to construct many ancient wonders such as Egypt’s pyramids and later Maya cities. —Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025

Being a quick study is an invaluable knack in repertory theatre, which is where Hopkins, with a two-year interlude for compulsory military service, kicked off his career. —Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025

Under state compulsory-attendance laws, children are required to attend school regularly—typically from ages 6 to 16—and districts are required to track every absence. —Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025

The problem arises when implicit or explicit pressures make either covering or uncovering feel compulsory—so the aim is to restore agency, letting employees decide for themselves without penalty. —Tia Katz, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 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