Mandatory
adjective
Definition
1. Required by law, rule, or authority.
2. Must be done.
2. Must be done.
Context Alive
On his first day at the new job, he received a long list of training sessions. Most were optional, but the safety course was mandatory for all employees. No one could start working without completing it first.
Meanings
1 meaning 1 Required by Law or Authority (Adjective) Very Common ▼
This meaning is about something you must do because a rule or law says so. Imagine starting a new job and being told that a drug test is mandatory before your first day — you can’t skip it. This is something mandatory — required, with no choice involved. You might hear “wearing a seatbelt is mandatory” or “attendance at the meeting is mandatory for all staff.” Or picture a school where wearing a uniform is mandatory and students get sent home without one. The word carries a strong sense of obligation. ✏️ Unlike “compulsory,” mandatory is more often used with laws and official requirements.
Vivid ExampleThe company announced new changes to their policy last month. Wearing a helmet on the construction site was now mandatory for everyone, including visitors. Anyone who showed up without one was turned away at the gate.
Examples from the Street
“Wearing a seatbelt is mandatory — you’ll get a fine if you don’t.”
Using a seatbelt is required by law — you’ll be charged a penalty if you fail to wear one
“Attendance at the training session is mandatory, not optional.”
Being present at the training is compulsory — you have no choice about going
“There’s a mandatory two-week quarantine for anyone arriving from abroad.”
There’s a required isolation period of fourteen days for all travellers coming from overseas
Common Patterns
it is/it’s mandatory to [verb] → it is required or compulsory to do something
[something] is mandatory → something is required and cannot be skipped
mandatory for [someone/group] → required specifically for a certain group of people
a mandatory requirement/condition → a condition that must be met, with no exceptions
mandatory training/testing/screening → training, tests, or checks that everyone must complete
a mandatory sentence/penalty → a fixed punishment set by law that a judge must impose
make [something] mandatory → turn something into a requirement
Collocations
3 collocationsmandatory training
required learning that must be completed
mandatory requirement
something you must fulfil
mandatory sentence
a fixed punishment required by law
Example Sentences
12 examples
1
It’s mandatory to wear a hard hat on the construction site at all times
You are required to have protective headgear on whenever you’re on the building site — no exceptions.
2
The health and safety course is mandatory — every employee must complete it before starting work
The workplace safety programme is compulsory — all staff members have to finish it before they begin their duties.
3
Vaccinations are mandatory for all children entering the public school system
Immunisations are required for every child enrolling in state-funded education.
4
The company introduced mandatory training on cybersecurity after a major data breach
The business brought in compulsory instruction on digital security following a serious leak of private information.
5
All passengers must go through mandatory screening before boarding the aircraft
Every traveller has to pass through required security checks before getting on the plane.
6
The judge imposed a mandatory sentence of five years for the drug offence
The judge handed down a fixed prison term of five years for the narcotics crime, as required by the law.
7
The government made face masks mandatory in all indoor public spaces during the pandemic
The authorities turned wearing face coverings into a legal requirement in all enclosed areas open to the public during the health crisis.
8
A valid passport is a mandatory requirement for international travel
Holding a current travel document is an absolute necessity for crossing borders into other countries.
9
The university has made attendance at lectures mandatory after too many students stopped showing up
The institution turned up to classes into a compulsory obligation after far too many learners began failing to appear.
10
In some countries, military service is mandatory for all citizens over the age of eighteen
In certain nations, serving in the armed forces is compulsory for every resident once they turn eighteen.
Learner Examples
★
In many countries, learning English is mandatory from primary school, yet millions of students still graduate without being able to hold a basic conversation
In numerous nations, studying English is compulsory from an early age, yet vast numbers of pupils still finish their education unable to manage even a simple exchange of words.
★
Some schools have made reading aloud in class mandatory, believing it builds confidence, but for shy students it can feel more like punishment than practice
Certain institutions have turned speaking passages out loud in front of classmates into a compulsory activity, thinking it strengthens self-assurance, but for timid learners it can seem more like a penalty than a useful exercise.
Phrasal Verbs & Idioms
0 items
Synonyms & Antonyms
7 items
Synonymscompulsory
required by rule
required
must be done
obligatory
legally or morally required
essential
absolutely needed
Antonymsoptional
not required
voluntary
by choice
elective
can be chosen