mandamus
noun
man·da·mus
man-ˈdā-məs 
: a writ issued by a superior court commanding the performance of a specified official act or duty
Examples of mandamus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Despite those filings, the district court has not ruled, prompting Monday’s mandamus petition.
—
Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Oct. 2025
The Government has also made a sufficient showing that mandamus relief is unavailable to respondents.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 26 Sep. 2025
No cause has been shown, and the present motion is for a mandamus.
—Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 29 July 2025
Under Ohio law, damages for failing to comply with a record request are $100 a day, up to $1,000 in total, for each business day after a mandamus action.
—Patricia Gallagher Newberry, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Other than mandamus actions, a suit under 42 USC 1983, was filed, I was never served and the matter was ultimately dismissed with prejudice, without my participation.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Feb. 2024
Since then, the case seeking the writ mandamus has continued but motions mostly had to do with procedural matters, Levinson said, such as a filing from Yost to dismiss the case.
—Laura Hancock, cleveland, 2 Sep. 2022
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Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Oct. 2025
The Government has also made a sufficient showing that mandamus relief is unavailable to respondents.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 26 Sep. 2025
No cause has been shown, and the present motion is for a mandamus.
—Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 29 July 2025
Under Ohio law, damages for failing to comply with a record request are $100 a day, up to $1,000 in total, for each business day after a mandamus action.
—Patricia Gallagher Newberry, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Other than mandamus actions, a suit under 42 USC 1983, was filed, I was never served and the matter was ultimately dismissed with prejudice, without my participation.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Feb. 2024
Since then, the case seeking the writ mandamus has continued but motions mostly had to do with procedural matters, Levinson said, such as a filing from Yost to dismiss the case.
—Laura Hancock, cleveland, 2 Sep. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Mandamus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mandamus. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mandamus
noun
man·da·mus
man-ˈdā-məs
: a writ from a superior court ordering the performance of an act or duty
Legal Definition
mandamus
noun
man·da·mus
man-ˈdā-məs
: an extraordinary writ issued by a court of competent jurisdiction to an inferior tribunal, a public official, an administrative agency, a corporation, or any person compelling the performance of an act usually only when there is a duty under the law to perform the act, the plaintiff has a clear right to such performance, and there is no other adequate remedy available
also
: an action in the nature of a writ of mandamus in jurisdictions where the writ is abolished compare cease-and-desist order at order, injunction, stay
Note: Mandamus is an extraordinary remedy and is issued usually only to command the performance of a ministerial act. It cannot be used to substitute the court's judgment for the defendant's in the performance of a discretionary act.
mandamus
verb
Etymology
Latin, we enjoin, from mandare to enjoin
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