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

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

Derived forms of compulsory

compulsorily, adverb compulsoriness, noun