obligatory

adjective

oblig·​a·​to·​ry ə-ˈbli-gə-ˌtȯr-ē How to pronounce obligatory (audio)
ä-,
ˈä-bli-gə- How to pronounce obligatory (audio)
1
: binding in law or conscience
The ordinance made it obligatory that homeowners clear the snow from the sidewalks.
2
: relating to or enforcing an obligation
a writ obligatory
3
: mandatory, required
obligatory military service
also : so commonplace as to be a convention, fashion, or cliché
the obligatory death scene in opera
The thriller included the obligatory chase scene.
4
: obligate sense 1
an obligatory biped

Examples of obligatory in a Sentence

The training is obligatory for all personnel. This action movie includes the obligatory chase scenes.
Recent Examples on the Web Limited access to water means others cannot make the obligatory ablution before prayer. Sana Noor Haq, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024 Winners often acknowledge their fellow nominees with a few obligatory words. Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2024 After the five obligatory daily prayers, an optional prayer called Taraweeh is performed at night, meant as a chance to strengthen faith, connect to God, and seek forgiveness. The Enquirer, 7 Mar. 2024 The suit’s outcome, however, could influence obligatory implicit-bias training for all licensed professionals. Ronnie Cohen, Los Angeles Times, 29 Feb. 2024 Take the obligatory response to consumer behavior shifts like the next TikTok, metaverse or NFT. Drew Cashmore, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 For drinks, there are the obligatory mimosas but also sangria with seasonal fruit ($9) and non-boozy options like pots of hot tea and Mexican hot chocolate. Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2024 All Fridays during Lent are also obligatory days of meat abstinence. Laura Daniella Sepulveda, The Arizona Republic, 17 Jan. 2024 For members of the Roman Catholic Church, fasting is obligatory from age 18 until age 59, according to the USCCB. The Enquirer, 5 Jan. 2024

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

Middle English obligatorie, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French obligatorie, obligatoire, borrowed from Latin obligātōrius, from obligāre "to tie up, restrain by tying, place under a legal or moral constraint" + -tōrius, deverbal adjective suffix, originally forming derivatives from agent nouns ending in -tōr-, -tor — more at oblige

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of obligatory was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near obligatory

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

obligatory

adjective
oblig·​a·​to·​ry ə-ˈblig-ə-ˌtōr-ē How to pronounce obligatory (audio)
-ˌtȯr-,
 also  ˈäb-li-gə-
: not to be left out, forgotten, or ignored : being required

Medical Definition

obligatory

adjective
oblig·​a·​to·​ry
ə-ˈblig-ə-ˌtōr-ē, ä-, -ˌtȯr- also ˈäb-li-gə-
obligatorily
ə-ˌblig-ə-ˈtōr-ə-lē, ä-, -ˈtȯr- also ˌäb-li-gə-
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on obligatory

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