mandate

1 of 2

noun

man·​date ˈman-ˌdāt How to pronounce mandate (audio)
1
: an authoritative command
especially : a formal order from a superior court or official to an inferior one
2
: an authorization to act given to a representative
accepted the mandate of the people
3
a
: an order or commission granted by the League of Nations to a member nation for the establishment of a responsible government over a former German colony or other conquered territory
b
: a mandated territory

mandate

2 of 2

verb

man·​date ˈman-ˌdāt How to pronounce mandate (audio)
mandated; mandating

transitive verb

1
: to administer or assign (something, such as a territory) under a mandate
2
: to officially require (something) : make (something) mandatory : order
a law mandating recycling
also : to direct or require (someone) to do something
a commission mandated to investigate corruption

Did you know?

When should you use mandate?

A mandate from a leader is a command you can't refuse. But that kind of personal command is rarely the meaning of mandate today; much more common are connected with institutions. Thus, the Clean Air Act was a mandate from Congress to clean up air pollution—and since mandate is also a verb, we could say instead that the Clear Air Act mandated new restrictions on air pollution. Elections are often interpreted as mandates from the public for certain kinds of action. But since a politician is not just a symbol of certain policies but also an individual who might happen to have an awfully nice smile, it can be risky to interpret most elections as mandating anything at all.

Examples of mandate in a Sentence

Noun Sports fans have considerable forbearance. Year after year they endure escalating ticket prices, the abomination known as seat licensing and the implied mandate that taxpayers should foot the bill for the new stadium or arena that will absolutely revive downtown. Jack McCallum, Sports Illustrated, 30 July 2007
All provisions requiring congressional approval, such as FDA regulation, were dropped, as were mandates for stronger package warnings, tighter enforcement on sales to youth, stronger public smoking bans, and … provisions to reduce youth smoking. Allan M. Brandt, The Cigarette Century, 2007
Not the least of the Governors' problems are the new mandates being put on them by Washington—by a President who was once one of their own. Karen Tumulty, Time, 19 May 2003
Royal mandates must be obeyed. They carried out the governor's mandate to build more roads. He won the election so convincingly that he believed he had been given a mandate for change. Verb The carbon prices on the European exchanges are higher precisely because the allowances for carbon emissions are mandated by government. Al Gore, An Inconvenient Truth, 2006
But the FDA did nothing. Later, it protested that it doesn't have the authority to mandate additional studies once a drug is marketed, but that is sophistry. The FDA has the authority to pull drugs off the market … Marcia Angell, New York Review of Books, 8 June 2006
For a few tantalizing weeks this spring, the manufacturers of gun safety locks seemed to have hit the jackpot: the gun-control bill passed by the Senate in the wake of the Littleton shootings mandated that all new handguns be equipped with safety locks. Calvin Trillin, Time, 5 July 1999
The law mandates that every car have seat belts. He won the election so convincingly that he believed the people had mandated him to carry out his policies.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Subway is currently trying to get more franchisees to invest in the brand, but this has proven difficult, as the company has put new mandates in place that shrink franchisees’ potential profits. Angela L. Pagán, Quartz, 4 Mar. 2024 Such a repository of telework data could present a challenge to an administration that, despite the lack of an official mandate, has encouraged state departments and agencies to reintroduce some in-person work as part of a new hybrid model. Maya Miller, Sacramento Bee, 4 Mar. 2024 From eco-friendly initiatives to engaging with local communities, the sector is aligning with the global mandate for environmental stewardship while offering immersive, culturally rich experiences. Jim Dobson, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 High-profile companies including Disney and Meta have announced mandates requiring three or more days a week in the office. TIME, 1 Mar. 2024 My track record of meeting state mandates for affordable housing and implementing effective homeless outreach demonstrates my commitment to creating positive change throughout our community. The San Diego Union-Tribune Staff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Feb. 2024 If the win-now mandate wasn't already apparent in the Jets' Aaron Rodgers-centric plans, owner Woody Johnson's comments at last week's NFL Honors further highlighted the urgency facing Gang Green. Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024 For example, Illinois requires 120 hours of CPE in three years, with no specific mandate for ethics credits, showcasing a more flexible approach compared to Florida’s more structured CPE criteria. Bryce Welker, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2024 The update has nothing to do with the new EU mandate on gateway technologies—despite the recent confirmation that iMessage has been excluded from opening up. Zak Doffman, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024
Verb
Change building codes to mandate atmospheric water harvesting systems in new homes and businesses. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024 Other steps include mandating receipts and charging return fees. Anne D'innocenzio, Quartz, 4 Mar. 2024 Perhaps most importantly, these bills would mandate a state audit of PACE every three years and require PACE providers to self-report information about their customers and projects, including if anyone has lost their home. Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2024 Meeting Regulatory Compliance Federal and state regulations also mandate health plans maintain accurate and accessible provider directories for a variety of reasons to protect both providers and members. Tammy Hawes, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 In Alabama, a court order that mandated a new congressional map has put two House Republican lawmakers – Reps. Barry Moore and Jerry Carl – in a bitter member-on-member primary. USA TODAY, 29 Feb. 2024 San Diego already recommends officers take an eight-hour break between shifts, but it’s not mandated. David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Feb. 2024 The rule would mandate that airlines provide more training for employees and contractors who physically assist passengers with disabilities and handle passengers' wheelchairs and other mobility devices. Joel Rose, NPR, 29 Feb. 2024 The rules mandated staying seated and quiet in the vehicle and never approaching the animals on the outskirts of camp. Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 28 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mandate.' 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

Noun and Verb

Middle French & Latin; Middle French mandat, from Latin mandatum, from neuter of mandatus, past participle of mandare to entrust, enjoin, probably irregular from manus hand + -dere to put — more at manual, do

First Known Use

Noun

1501, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1919, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mandate was in 1501

Dictionary Entries Near mandate

Cite this Entry

“Mandate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mandate. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

mandate

1 of 2 noun
man·​date ˈman-ˌdāt How to pronounce mandate (audio)
1
: an order from a higher court to a lower court
2
a
: an authoritative command, instruction, or direction
b
: authorization or approval given to a representative especially by voters
accepted the mandate of the people
3
a
: a commission granted by the League of Nations to a member nation to administer a territory on its behalf
b
: a mandated territory

mandate

2 of 2 verb
mandated; mandating
1
: to administer or assign a territory under a mandate
2
: to make mandatory : order, command

Legal Definition

mandate

1 of 2 noun
man·​date ˈman-ˌdāt How to pronounce mandate (audio)
1
a
: a formal communication from a reviewing court notifying the court below of its judgment and directing the lower court to act accordingly
b
2
in the civil law of Louisiana : an act by which a person gives another person the power to transact for him or her one or several affairs
3
a
: an authoritative command : a clear authorization or direction
the mandate of the full faith and credit clauseNational Law Journal
b
: the authorization to act given by a constituency to its elected representative

mandate

2 of 2 transitive verb
mandated; mandating
: to make mandatory or required
the Pennsylvania Constitution mandates a criminal defendant's right to confrontationNational Law Journal
Etymology

Noun

Latin mandatum, from neuter of mandatus, past participle of mandare to entrust, enjoin, probably irregularly from manus hand + -dere to put

More from Merriam-Webster on mandate

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