compulsory

views updated May 14 2018

com·pul·so·ry / kəmˈpəlsərē/ • adj. required by law or a rule; obligatory: compulsory military service | it was compulsory to attend Mass. ∎  involving or exercising compulsion; coercive: the abuse of compulsory powers.DERIVATIVES: com·pul·so·ri·ly / -sərəlē/ adv.com·pul·so·ri·ness n.