compulsory
required by law or rules
If something is compulsory, you must do it because a rule or law says so.
[something] is compulsory for [someone] / it is compulsory to [verb]
- Wearing a helmet is compulsory for all motorcyclists in this country.
- Attendance at the safety training is compulsory for new employees.
- In many countries, education is compulsory until the age of sixteen.
- The government is considering making vaccinations compulsory for schoolchildren.
- Seat belts became compulsory in cars during the 1980s.
- It is compulsory to wear a seat belt in a car.
- School is compulsory for children up to sixteen years old.
- A visa is compulsory for visitors from some countries.
- A safety test is compulsory before you can use the machine.
- It is not optional; it is compulsory.
required exercise or routine
A compulsory is a set exercise or task that a person must do in a sport or test.
a compulsory in [sport/exam]
- She scored highest on the balance beam compulsory.
- In the older format of the sport, skaters had to complete a series of compulsories before the free program.
- The first part of the test consists of three compulsories that every student must complete.
- He did well in the floor compulsory.
- The competition starts with a short compulsory.
- All skaters must perform the same compulsory.
- The exam has two compulsories and one free question.
- She practiced the compulsory many times before the event.
- Base: compulsory
compulsory education
1legally required schooling
a system where the law says children must go to school up to a certain age
- Compulsory education in this country begins at age six.
- The length of compulsory education has increased over the last century.
compulsory insurance
1legally required insurance
insurance that people must buy because the law says so, for example for cars or workers
- Car owners must have compulsory insurance before they can drive on public roads.
- The government is debating whether to introduce compulsory insurance for all gig workers.
compulsory military service
1legally required army duty
a system in which the law says that young people must serve in the army for a period of time
- Several countries still have compulsory military service for young men.
- He completed his compulsory military service before starting university.
compulsory purchase
1state-forced property sale
in British law, when the government can make a person sell their land or building so it can be used for a public project
- The council issued a compulsory purchase order on the site for the new road.
- Local residents are angry about the compulsory purchase of their homes.
make [something] compulsory
1decide something must be done
to create a rule or law so that people must do something and cannot choose not to
- The company made safety training compulsory after the accident.
- Many parents want the government to make vaccinations compulsory for schoolchildren.