compulsory
adjective
com·pul·so·ry
kəm-ˈpəls-rē 
-ˈpəl-sə-
2
: coercive, compelling
compulsory measures
Examples of compulsory in a Sentence
To free the mind and the heart from compulsory religious confession and observance was good for all three interested parties: the state, the church and the people.
—
Jon Meacham, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2009
So he wants a private life and no photographs and nobody to know his home address. I can dig it, I can relate to that (but, like he should try it when it's compulsory instead of a free-choice option).
—Salman Rushdie, New York Times Book Review, 14 Jan. 1990
He began to resent the compulsory attendance at the boring factory meetings.
—James Reston, Jr., Time, 28 Nov. 1988
compulsory retirement at age 70
Jon Meacham, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2009
So he wants a private life and no photographs and nobody to know his home address. I can dig it, I can relate to that (but, like he should try it when it's compulsory instead of a free-choice option).
—Salman Rushdie, New York Times Book Review, 14 Jan. 1990
He began to resent the compulsory attendance at the boring factory meetings.
—James Reston, Jr., Time, 28 Nov. 1988
compulsory retirement at age 70
Recent Examples on the Web
Eleven European countries have compulsory military service: Austria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden, and non-European Union nation Norway.
—Lorne Cook, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2025
Latvia reintroduced compulsory military service for adult males on January 1 last year, having abolished it in 2006.
—Billy Stockwell, CNN, 9 Mar. 2025
So the last two compulsory picks fall to SoCal, who gets both for the minimum $10k.
—Todd Boss, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
This compulsory acquisition of private property for public use is typically wielded by the government, like a state highway department, or a public utility, like a gas company.
—Steve Osunsami, ABC News, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for compulsory
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Lorne Cook, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2025
Latvia reintroduced compulsory military service for adult males on January 1 last year, having abolished it in 2006.
—Billy Stockwell, CNN, 9 Mar. 2025
So the last two compulsory picks fall to SoCal, who gets both for the minimum $10k.
—Todd Boss, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
This compulsory acquisition of private property for public use is typically wielded by the government, like a state highway department, or a public utility, like a gas company.
—Steve Osunsami, ABC News, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for compulsory
Cite this Entry
“Compulsory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compulsory. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
compulsory
adjective
com·pul·so·ry
kəm-ˈpəls-(ə-)rē
1
: required by or as if by law
compulsory education
2
: having the power of forcing someone to do something
a compulsory law
Legal Definition
compulsory
adjective
com·pul·so·ry
kəm-ˈpəl-sə-rē
1
: required or compelled by law : mandatory, obligatory
compulsory arbitration
compulsory insurance
specifically
: required to be brought or asserted in a pleading because of having arisen from the transaction or occurrence that is the subject of litigation
a compulsory counterclaim
compulsory reconvention
compare elective, permissive
2
: using compulsion : compelling
compulsory measures
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