Obligatory: meaning, definitions and examples

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obligatory

 

[ əˈblɪɡəˌtɔːri ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

legal

required by law, rule, or agreement; compulsory

Synonyms

compulsory, mandatory, necessary, required.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
obligatory

This word is mistakenly repeated in the list, refer to the context provided above.

mandatory

This word is used to indicate that something is required and must be followed, often with a legal or official connotation. It’s stronger and more formal than 'required'.

  • It is mandatory to wear a helmet while riding a motorcycle
  • A mandatory meeting was scheduled for all employees
compulsory

This word is used when something is required by law or authority and is not optional, often in the context of education, training, or legal obligations.

  • Attending school is compulsory for children in many countries
  • Military service can be compulsory in some nations
required

This word is used to describe something that is necessary according to rules, standards, or needs. It is less formal than 'mandatory' but still implies a need or regulation.

  • A password is required to access the account
  • The uniform is required attire for the event
necessary

This word is used when something is needed to achieve a certain result or to maintain a certain situation. It implies that without it, something important cannot happen.

  • It is necessary to drink water to stay hydrated
  • Good planning is necessary for success

Examples of usage

  • It is obligatory for all citizens to pay taxes.
  • Attendance at the meeting is obligatory for all employees.
  • Failure to wear a seatbelt in the car is obligatory by law.

Translations

Translations of the word "obligatory" in other languages:

🇵🇹 obrigatório

🇮🇳 अनिवार्य

🇩🇪 verpflichtend

🇮🇩 wajib

🇺🇦 обов'язковий

🇵🇱 obowiązkowy

🇯🇵 必須の

🇫🇷 obligatoire

🇪🇸 obligatorio

🇹🇷 zorunlu

🇰🇷 의무적인

🇸🇦 إلزامي

🇨🇿 povinný

🇸🇰 povinný

🇨🇳 强制性的

🇸🇮 obvezen

🇮🇸 skyldubundinn

🇰🇿 міндетті

🇬🇪 სავალდებულო

🇦🇿 məcburi

🇲🇽 obligatorio

Etymology

The word 'obligatory' originated from the Latin word 'obligātus', the past participle of 'obligāre', which means 'to bind, oblige'. The term has been used in English since the late 16th century. Over time, 'obligatory' has retained its meaning of something that is required or compulsory, especially in legal or formal contexts.

See also: obligate, obligated, obligation, obliged, obligee, obliging.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #10,481, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.