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compulsory adjective

Click to hear the UK pronunciation of this wordClick to hear the US pronunciation of this word/kəmˈpʌl.sər.i//-sɚ-/ adj

Definition

If something is compulsory, you must do it because of a rule or law
Swimming was compulsory at my school.
Wearing seat belts in cars is compulsory by law.

compulsorily adverb

Click to hear the UK pronunciation of this wordClick to hear the US pronunciation of this word/kəmˈpʌl.sər.i.li//-sɚ-/ adv
Patients can now be compulsorily detained in hospital only under tightly drawn criteria.

(Definition of compulsory adjective from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

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