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# obligatory

adjective (obligatory)

«obligatory» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (formal) Obligatory means something you must do because a rule or law says so; it is not a free choice. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/obligatory/#m1)
2. (humorous) Obligatory can describe something that always happens and is expected, as in «the obligatory selfie». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/obligatory/#m2)

### In the lessons

A stiff word of rules and exams: «Attendance is obligatory». In school and sport, wearing a uniform or helmet may be obligatory. In everyday talk it can be playful: «the obligatory family photo». Phrases: «obligatory for all pupils», «it is obligatory to», «the obligatory».

### Examples

- Wearing a seatbelt is obligatory in the car. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/obligatory/#x1)
- Swimming lessons are obligatory for every pupil. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/obligatory/#x2)
- School uniform is obligatory, the rules said. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/obligatory/#x3)
- Helmets are obligatory on the climbing wall. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/obligatory/#x4)
- Then came the obligatory photo with Grandma. (humorous) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/obligatory/#x5)
- The trip is not obligatory; you can choose. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/obligatory/#x6)

### Note

Formal word; in everyday talk «compulsory» or «you have to». Opposite: «optional» or «voluntary». Related: «obligation», «obliged». Stress: o-BLIG-a-tory.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «obligatory» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/obligatory/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«obligatory» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/obligatory.html) on Mova free.