Word
obligatory
Phoneticsoblig·a·tory
US/əˈbɫɪɡəˌtɔɹi/
UK/əblˈɪɡətəɹˌi/
Definitions
01required by law or rules
B2 · Upper Intermediate Law Formal
adj. describes something that you must do because it is a law or a formal rule.
adj. legally or officially binding; mandatory according to a set of regulations or statutes.
“In this country, it is obligatory to wear a seatbelt while driving.”
“The new safety protocols made it obligatory for all site personnel to undergo rigorous training before operating the heavy machinery.”
Usage
Often follows 'it is' as a dummy subject or precedes the noun it modifies.
Pitfall
The helmet is obligatory to wear.
Wearing a helmet is obligatory.
While 'obligatory' can be followed by a 'for' phrase, it is more natural to use the action as the subject or use 'it is obligatory to [verb]'.
Synonyms
02expected by social custom
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. describes something you do because people expect it, even if you do not want to.
adj. required by social etiquette or convention; often used to describe a predictable or perfunctory action.
“He made the obligatory small talk at the party before leaving early.”
“After the performance, the lead actor gave an obligatory nod to the balcony, though his exhaustion was evident to the front row.”
Teaching tip
In social contexts, this often implies the person is doing the action just to be polite or follow a routine, rather than out of genuine interest.
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“The film takes us through a series of locations dragged straight from the games – an abandoned farmhouse, a road tunnel crammed with abandoned cars, a hospital and the obligatory sewer level .” “A gong adds to the harmony (and if you need that underlining, there are bells and gongs on the now obligatory exhibition soundtrack).” Etymology
From Middle English obligatorie, from Latin obligatōrius.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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