Academic / B2

k-uh-m-PULS-uh-ree/kəmˈpʌlsəri/

Compulsory means required by a rule or law: compulsory helmets, a compulsory module. Must and have to are everyday; optional and voluntary are opposites. Mandatory is a close formal cousin. In speech, you have to is enough. Do not use compulsory for something that is only strongly advised (a recommended vaccine is not automatically compulsory), and do not confuse it with compulsive (a hard-to-control habit).

Meaning

Required by a rule or law; you cannot choose to skip it.

Examples

• “Helmets are compulsory on the building site.”
• “Attendance at the safety briefing is compulsory; the social is not.”
• “Latin is no longer compulsory, which is why the option still needs a minimum group size.”

Good to know

Required by rule/law. Everyday: you have to. Opposite: optional/voluntary. Close: mandatory. Mix-up: compulsive (habit).

Near in meaning

mandatory

Topics

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