compulsory
[ kuhm-puhl-suh-ree ]
/ kəmˈpʌl sə ri /
adjective
required; mandatory; obligatory: compulsory education.
using compulsion; compelling; constraining: compulsory measures to control rioting.
noun, plural com·pul·so·ries.
something, as an athletic feat, that must be performed or completed as part of a contest or competition: The ice skater received a higher score on the compulsories than on her freestyle performance.
Origin of compulsory
1510–20; < Medieval Latin
compulsōrius, equivalent to Latin
compul-, variant stem of
compellere (see
compel) +
-sōrius, for
-tōrius
-tory1; cf.
compulsive
OTHER WORDS FROM compulsory
Words nearby compulsory
Example sentences from the Web for compulsory
British Dictionary definitions for compulsory
compulsory
/ (kəmˈpʌlsərɪ) /
adjective
required by regulations or laws; obligatory
compulsory education
involving or employing compulsion; compelling; necessary; essential