Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

mandatory

/ˈmæn.dəˌtɔɹ.i/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.13 in modern English

Syllables: manda-to-ry
IPA: /ˈmæn.dəˌtɔɹ.i/

15

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

4

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

obligatory; required or commanded by authority.

adj

Of, being or relating to a mandate.

noun

A sign or line that require the path of the disc to be above, below or to one side of it.

noun

A person, organisation or state who receives a mandate; a mandatary.

Dated

Example Sentences

"Attendance at a school is usually mandatory for children."
"This kind of immediate control structure we take to be characteristic of the tribe, and it leads to a rather rigid type of system in which 'every action not mandatory is forbidden'."
"It also discusses the access to legal instruments for enforcement with regard to mandatory disclosure of environmental information."
"While in the most serious cases mounting an investigation is usually mandatory, there are other occasions where it is less clear-cut or when it is concluded that an investigation would not fulfil RAIB's objectives to improve safety or prevent future accidents."
"Mandatory Palestine"

Etymology

From Late Latin mandatorius (“of or belonging to a mandator”), from mandātor (“one who commands”), equivalent to mandate + -ory; see mandate.

Word Breakdown

Root: *deh₃-, mandatorius
Suffix: mandate

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈmæn.dəˌtɔɹ.i/
British English: /ˈmæn.də.t(ə)ɹi/

Usage

Dated

Inflected Forms

more mandatory (comparative) most mandatory (superlative) mandatories (plural)

Derived Forms

mandatorily mandatoriness nonmandatory supermandatory

Phrases

mandatory detention Mandatory Palestine mandatory reporter mandatory sentence mandatory sentencing

Frequently Paired Words

mandative

Synonyms

compulsory obligatory binding compulsatory decretory forced imperative involuntary mandatory nonoptional required unbewised

Antonyms

optional elective discretionary facultative free noncompulsory nonmandatory nonobligate nonobligatory nonrequired nonrequisite optionary

Questions

How do you pronounce mandatory?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈmæn.dəˌtɔɹ.i/.
What does mandatory mean?: obligatory; required or commanded by authority.
Where does mandatory come from?: From Late Latin mandatorius (“of or belonging to a mandator”), from mandātor (“one who commands”), equivalent to mandate + -ory; see mandate.

How to pronounce mandatory

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “mandatory”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈmæn.dəˌtɔɹ.i/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “mandatory”.
Repeat and practice — Say “mandatory” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.