obligatory

adjective oblig·a·to·ry \ ə-ˈbli-gə-ˌtȯr-ē , ä- also ˈä-bli-gə- \

|Updated on: 13 Jun 2018

Examples: obligatory in a Sentence

Definition of obligatory

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 1

an obligatory biped

—

obligatorily

play \ə-ˌbli-gə-ˈtȯr-ə-lē, ä- also ˌä-bli-gə-\ adverb

See obligatory defined for English-language learners

See obligatory defined for kids

Examples of obligatory in a Sentence

The training is obligatory for all personnel.
This action movie includes the obligatory chase scenes.

Recent Examples of obligatory from the Web

The food, which is vaguely Italian, reads like a careful primer on current trends, well executed if obligatory.

— hannah goldfield, The New Yorker, "The Sprawling, Swanky, Slightly Sterile Legacy Records," 7 June 2018
This by-now-obligatory dramatization of any Royal coupling opens with a flashback to Harry as a young boy, and an excursion to Africa after his mother's funeral, where he's dramatically confronted by a lion.

— brian lowry, CNN, "'Harry & Meghan' gives 'A Royal Romance' requisite Lifetime movie," 13 May 2018
Under the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial law, the CFPB is already required to perform cost-benefit evaluations of its rules, but such calculations aren’t obligatory in enforcement decisions, including lawsuits or fines.

— lalita clozel, WSJ, "Mulvaney to Prioritize Business Costs in CFPB Reorganization," 10 May 2018
Dozens more artists and the obligatory array of afterparties are also on tap as fans from around the world descend onto Detroit for another beat-heavy Memorial Day weekend.

— brian mccollum, Detroit Free Press, "Upcoming Detroit concerts: Movement, Slayer, Post Malone, Eddie Money, more," 24 May 2018
Jeff Siner Austin Dillon: Is this a bit obligatory?

— brendan marks, charlotteobserver, "Who could win the Coca-Cola 600? Here are 3 favorites ... and 3 sleeper picks, too | Charlotte Observer," 23 May 2018
Click through for the best Etsy shops that'll provide everything from norm-core basics to the obligatory grunge-girl foundation pieces.

— refinery29.com, "The 10 Best Etsy Shops For '90s Vintage," 16 May 2018
Assessed contributions are obligatory payments made by all member states and based on such things as per capita income and population.

— ben evansky, Fox News, "Haley 'taking names': Report reveals which nations have America's back at UN – and which ones don't," 1 May 2018
Underworld scenes were almost obligatory in French opera of the time.

— george loomis, New York Times, "An Opera Worth Fighting Over," 13 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'obligatory.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of obligatory

15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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obligatory Synonyms

OBLIGATORY Defined for English Language Learners

obligatory

adjective

Definition of obligatory for English Language Learners

: required by a law or rule
: always or often included as a familiar and expected part of something

Medical Dictionary

obligatory

adjective oblig·a·to·ry \ ə-ˈblig-ə-ˌtōr-ē, ä-, -ˌtȯr- also ˈäb-li-gə- \

medical Definition of obligatory

: obligate 1

—

obligatorily

\ə-ˌblig-ə-ˈtōr-ə-lē, ä-, -ˈtȯr- also ˌäb-li-gə-\ adverb

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See words that rhyme with obligatory Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for obligatory Spanish Central: Translation of obligatory Nglish: Translation of obligatory for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of obligatory for Arabic speakers

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obligatory

Definition of obligatory

obligatorily

Examples of obligatory in a Sentence

Recent Examples of obligatory from the Web

First Known Use of obligatory

obligatory Synonyms

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OBLIGATORY Defined for English Language Learners

obligatory

Definition of obligatory for English Language Learners

Medical Dictionary

obligatory

medical Definition of obligatory

obligatorily

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