Meaning & use
mandatory
Required by law, rule, or authority, and therefore not optional or left to personal choice.
See it in a sentence
Wearing a seatbelt is mandatory for every passenger in the front seat of the car.
The new employee handbook made safety training mandatory for all warehouse staff.
A note on using this word
Mandatory implies enforcement by a rule or authority, whereas required can also arise from practical necessity rather than a formal rule.
Words with a similar meaning
compulsoryobligatory
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
optionalvoluntary
Make it your own
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