# requirement

/ɹɪˈkwaɪɹmənt/ (US) · /ɹɪkwˈaɪəmənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/requirement
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a necessity or rule

noun · CEFR B2 · General-service

something that is needed or must be done because of a rule or law.

For teachers: a condition or prerequisite that is mandatory by law, regulation, or necessity.

- A valid passport is a legal requirement for anyone traveling to another country.
- The university's entry requirements include a high level of proficiency in English and a minimum of three years of relevant work experience.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'for' or 'of'.

### 2. technical specification

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a specific detail about how a product or system must work.

For teachers: a documented constraint or capability that a system, product, or service must conform to.

- The software has a minimum memory requirement of eight gigabytes to run smoothly.
- The engineering team spent months gathering user requirements before they began the actual design phase of the new medical device.

Usage: Commonly used in the plural ('requirements') when referring to a project scope.

## Examples

- A valid driver's license is a requirement for this job.
- The software's minimum system requirement is eight gigabytes of RAM to ensure smooth performance.
- The engineering team spent weeks documenting every technical requirement to ensure the final prototype would comply with international safety regulations and environmental standards.

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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.