# mandate

/ˈmænˌdeɪt/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mandate
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. authority from voters

noun · CEFR B2

the authority given to an elected group or person to carry out their promises because they won an election.

For teachers: the authority to carry out a policy or course of action, regarded as given by the electorate to a candidate or party that is victorious in an election.

- The president claimed a clear mandate from the people to change the tax laws.
- With a landslide victory, the prime minister argued that the government held a democratic mandate to implement the controversial environmental reforms.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'to' followed by an infinitive verb.

### 2. an official order

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

an official or legal order to do something.

For teachers: an official order or commission to do something; a judicial command or precept.

- The court issued a mandate requiring the company to stop its operations.
- The agency's mandate was expanded by the legislature to include the oversight of all regional water treatment facilities.

Usage: In legal contexts, it functions as a countable noun referring to a specific document or decree.

### 3. to make mandatory

verb · CEFR B2

to make something a requirement or to give someone the official power to do something.

For teachers: to give an official instruction or command; to make a particular activity or behavior compulsory by law or regulation.

- The new law will mandate that all citizens wear seatbelts in the back of the car.
- Federal regulations mandate that all commercial aircraft undergo rigorous safety inspections after a specified number of flight hours.

Usage: Commonly followed by a 'that' clause or a direct object.

### 4. historical territory control

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Archaic

a commission from the League of Nations to a country to govern a specific territory.

For teachers: an authorization granted by the League of Nations to a member nation to govern a former German or Turkish colony.

- After the war, the region was governed under a British mandate.
- The historical study examines the administrative challenges faced during the French mandate in Syria and Lebanon following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.

## Examples

- The new president has a mandate to change the law.
- Winning sixty percent of the vote gave the mayor a clear mandate to proceed with the city's infrastructure project.
- The committee argued that without a specific legislative mandate, they lacked the legal standing to enforce the new environmental regulations across the private sector.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.