compulsory

adjective

com·pul·so·ry kəm-ˈpəl-sə-rē

-ˈpəls-rē

Synonyms of compulsory

: mandatory, enforced

compulsory retirement

: coercive, compelling

compulsory measures

compulsorily

kəm-ˈpəl-sə-rə-lē

-ˈpəls-rə-

adverb

Examples of compulsory in a Sentence

To free the mind and the heart from compulsory religious confession and observance was good for all three interested parties: the state, the church and the people. —Jon Meacham, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2009

So he wants a private life and no photographs and nobody to know his home address. I can dig it, I can relate to that (but, like he should try it when it's compulsory instead of a free-choice option). —Salman Rushdie, New York Times Book Review, 14 Jan. 1990

He began to resent the compulsory attendance at the boring factory meetings. —James Reston, Jr., Time, 28 Nov. 1988

compulsory retirement at age 70

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Those include whether the fast-growing ultra-Orthodox population should remain exempted from compulsory military service in a country where many families have seen their sons and daughters killed in three years of inconclusive wars. — Cara Anna, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026 About 330,000 young Israelis, many facing compulsory military service under the shadow of war, are eligible to vote for the first time. — Tia Goldenberg, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026 Women, in particular, are often a target of compulsory sterilization. — Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Oct. 2026 Brazil has one national election authority, compulsory voting and no mail-in ballots. — Solly Boussidan, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for compulsory

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French compulsorie "compelling, coercive," borrowed from Medieval Latin compulsōrius, derivative, with -tōrius, deverbal adjective suffix (originally forming derivatives from agent nouns ending in -tōr-, -tor) of Latin compellere "to drive together, force to go, force (to a view, course of action)" (with -s- from past participle compulsus) — more at compel

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of compulsory was in 1581

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Compulsory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compulsory. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

compulsory

adjective

com·pul·so·ry kəm-ˈpəls-(ə-)rē

: required by or as if by law

compulsory education

: having the power of forcing someone to do something

a compulsory law

Legal Definition

compulsory

adjective

com·pul·so·ry kəm-ˈpəl-sə-rē

: required or compelled by law : mandatory, obligatory

compulsory arbitration

compulsory insurance

specifically : required to be brought or asserted in a pleading because of having arisen from the transaction or occurrence that is the subject of litigation

a compulsory counterclaim

compulsory reconvention

compare elective, permissive

: using compulsion : compelling

compulsory measures

compulsorily

-sə-rə-lē

adverb

compulsory

adjective

Synonyms of compulsory

Examples of compulsory in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Legal Definition

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