What is the difference between mandatory and obligatory

See a translation. Highly-rated answerer. Read more comments. They both mean something that you have to do. Just me guessing. You may understand better if you look up the words they are derived from; "mandate" and "obligation".

Obligations can be created from morals, whereas mandates are official orders. It is most often found in the phrases compulsory military service and compulsory education.

Obligatory is the least common of these three words, and the most formal. It is rarely used in spoken language. Obligatory also has a second meaning that is quite different from the first.

It can describe something that is not required, but has become so common or typical that it now seems overused and not very meaningful or effective, as in this example sentence:.

In general, if you want to describe something that is required by law or by a rule, and you're not sure which adjective to use, mandatory is a good choice, because it is the most common. Learner's Dictionary mobile search. Learner's Dictionary. Ask the Editor. It may not display this or other websites correctly. You should upgrade or use an alternative browser. Thread starter xuartema Start date May 30, Hello everybody, Can a native english-speaking person explain to me the subtle differences between compulsory mandatory and obligatory, in the common usage, everyday-life?

In which situation you would preferably use this term instead of this one? Thank you. I would use compulsory when I am forcing someone to attend a meeting. You have to go to the meeting. I would use mandatory when I want everyone to attend a meeting. Either you or your representative has to go to the meeting. I would use obligatory when I want to make someone feel they should attend the meeting out of loyalty. This one is more of a conscience matter. My opinion on their usage. I'm hoping others will reply with their opinions also.

I view the terms as entirely synonymous but Judica's interpretation is very interesting and makes a lot of sense. Look at the verb forms of these words: Compulsory - to compel. Mandatory - to command. Obligatory - to oblige. Having said that, I have to reiterate that the terms are generally used completely synonymously.

Mandatory adj. Mandatory appears in several online law dictionaries, whereas compulsory and obligatory do not. Read more comments. Haha those three words mean literally the same thing. They all define as things required by law. These are them in the same sentence: 1. It is mandatory that bicyclists wear helmets. It is obligatory that bicyclists wear helmets.

It is compulsory that bicyclists wear helmets.