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compulsory

 - 3 dictionary results

com⋅pul⋅so⋅ry

  [kuhm-puhl-suh-ree] adjective, noun, plural -ries.
Use compulsory in a Sentence
–adjective
1. required; mandatory; obligatory: compulsory education.
2. using compulsion; compelling; constraining: compulsory measures to control rioting.
–noun
3. something, as an athletic feat, that must be performed or completed as part of a contest or competition: The ice skater received a higher score on the compulsories than on her freestyle performance.
Origin:
1510–20; < ML compulsōrius, equiv. to L compul-, var. s. of compellere (see compel ) + -sōrius, for -tōrius -tory 1 ; cf. compulsive

Related forms:
com⋅pul⋅so⋅ri⋅ly, adverb
com⋅pul⋅so⋅ri⋅ness, noun

Antonyms:
1, 2. voluntary.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To compulsory
com·pul·so·ry   (kəm-pŭl'sə-rē)   
adj.  

  1. Obligatory; required: a compulsory examination.

  2. Employing or exerting compulsion; coercive.

n.   pl. com·pul·so·ries Sports
An element, such as a dive or school figure, required of all competitors in an athletic competition. Often used in the plural.
com·pul'so·ri·ly adv., com·pul'so·ri·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: com·pul·so·ry
Pronunciation: k&m-'p&l-s&-rE
Function: adjective
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 compulsory counterclaim> <compulsory reconvention> —compare ELECTIVE, PERMISSIVE
2 : using compulsion : COMPELLING <compulsory measures> —com·pul·so·ri·ly /-s&-r&-lE/ adverb
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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