# obligatory

/əˈbɫɪɡəˌtɔɹi/ (US) · /əblˈɪɡətəɹˌi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/obligatory
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. required by law or rules

adjective · CEFR B2 · Formal

describes something that you must do because it is a law or a formal rule.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. expected by social custom

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

describes something you do because people expect it, even if you do not want to.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- Wearing a seatbelt is obligatory for all passengers.
- The company provides an obligatory safety training session for every new employee during their first week.
- While the attendance was technically obligatory, the professor noted that true engagement with the material could not be mandated by university policy alone.

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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.