ENGLISH
REFERENCE

compulsory

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //kəmˈpəɫsɝi// UK //kəmpˈʌlsəɹˌi// com·pul·so·ry General-service

adj. required by a law or a rule. If something is compulsory, you must do it and you do not have a choice.

adj. obligatory by virtue of a law, rule, or directive. Often used in administrative or educational contexts to describe requirements that cannot be waived.


SIMPLE

Math is a compulsory subject in high school.

CONTEXTUAL

The government made it compulsory for all citizens to carry identification when traveling between provinces.

COMPLEX

While the seminar is technically optional, the department head strongly suggested that attendance is effectively compulsory for those seeking a promotion this year.

Synonyms
Origin

Borrowed from Late Latin compulsorius, from Latin compulsus. Displaced native Old English ġenīedelīċ.

Usage

Typically functions as an attributive adjective before a noun or as a predicative adjective following a linking verb.

Pitfall

it is compulsory to doingit is compulsory to doWhen followed by an action, this adjective requires a to-infinitive, not a gerund.

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