Difference Between Mandatory and Compulsory

The word mandatory is generally used in the sense of 'binding.' On the other hand, the word compulsory is generally used in the sense of ' ... Home/Language/Words/DifferenceBetweenMandatoryandCompulsory MandatoryvsCompulsory   Mandatoryandcompulsoryaretwowordsthatareoftenconfusedwhenitcomestotheirmeaningsandconnotations,whenstrictlyspeaking,thereissomedifferencebetweenthetwowords.Thewordmandatoryisgenerallyusedinthesenseof‘binding.’ Ontheotherhand,thewordcompulsoryisgenerallyusedinthesenseof‘essential.’Thisisthemaindifferencebetweenthetwowords.However,youwillseethatalmostallthedictionariesputmandatoryandcompulsoryassynonymsthoughwesaytheyhavethisdifference.Inthatcase,wehavetoregardwheneachtermisused.Letusfindoutmoreabouteachterm. WhatdoesMandatorymean? Mandatorymeansbinding.Itisimportanttonotethatanythingthatismandatoryhasthequalityofbindingthedoertothework.Ontheotherhand,thewordmandatoryoftenreferstoconditions.Letusfocusonthesentencesgivenbelow. Itismandatorytofillupallthedetailsintheapplicationform. Itismandatorytomentiontheannualincomeoftheparent. Inboththesentencesgivenabove,thewordmandatoryisusedinthesenseof‘binding’andsomethingthatisconditional.Hence,themeaningofthefirstsentencewouldbe‘theapplicationformcanbesubmittedundertheconditionthatallthedetailsarefilledupbytheapplicant.’Themeaningofthesecondsentencewouldbe‘theapplicantisboundbythedetailsregardingtheannualincomeofhisparent.’ Thereisanotherimportantfactthatwecanunderstandbylookingattheseexamples.Ifyoutakeanotherlookatbothoftheexamplesgivenabove,youwillseethattheyarebothsentencesthatspeakaboutsomekindoflegalmatter.Inthefirstsentence,wearespeakingaboutanapplicationform.Inthesecondsentencealsothespeakermustbespeakingaboutsomekindofapplication.Wedonotaskforsomeone’sparent’sannualincomeingeneralconversation.Thatissomethingwecomeacrossifwearefillinganapplicationforbursaryorascholarship,etc.So,bothsituationsintheexamplesrefertoincidentswherewecometofacelegalsituations.Thatshowsthatmandatoryisawordusedinthelegalcontext. ‘Itismandatorytofillupallthedetails’ WhatdoesCompulsorymean? Ontheotherhand,compulsorymeansessential.Anythingthatiscompulsoryhastobeessentiallydonewithoutpostponement.Thewordcompulsoryoftenreferstothingsorrequirements.Observethetwosentencesgivenbelow. 80%ofattendanceiscompulsoryforthestudentstotaketheexamination. Wearinguniformiscompulsory. Inboththesentences,thewordcompulsoryisusedinthesenseof‘essential.’Themeaningofthefirstsentencewouldbe‘80%ofattendanceisessentialforthestudentstotaketheexamination.’Themeaningofthesecondsentencewouldbe‘wearinguniformisessential.’ Letusseewhywehaveusedthewordcompulsoryintheseexamples.Ifyoulookattheseexamples,youwillseethatthefirstexamplereferstothefieldofeducation.Wearetalkingabouttheattendanceofstudentsinthatparticularexample.Inthesecondexampletoo,wemaybetalkingaboutaschooleducationormaybeaworkuniformasthefiremenorthepolicemenwear.Thus,itbecomescleartousethatthewordcompulsoryisusedinthecontextoffieldssuchaseducation,employment,orbusiness. ‘Wearinguniformiscompulsory’ WhatisthedifferencebetweenMandatoryandCompulsory? •Meaning: •Thewordmandatoryisgenerallyusedinthesenseof‘binding.’ •Ontheotherhand,thewordcompulsoryisgenerallyusedinthesenseof‘essential.’ •Nature: •Anythingthatismandatoryhasthequalityofbindingthedoertothework. •Anythingthatiscompulsoryhastobeessentiallydonewithoutpostponement. •Reference: •Thewordmandatoryoftenreferstoconditions. •Thewordcompulsoryoftenreferstothingsorrequirements. •Context: •Thewordcompulsoryisoftenusedinthefieldsofeducation,business,andemployment. •Thewordmandatoryisoftenusedinthefieldoflaw. Thesearethedifferencesbetweenthetwowordsmandatoryandcompulsory.So,nexttimeyoucomeacrossthesetwowordsconsiderthecontextanduseeachwordappropriately.   ImagesCourtesy: UnitedNationsloanapplicationformby AlexGoldmark (CCBY2.0) Uniformby Robertvan1 (CCBY2.5) Relatedposts: DifferenceBetweenNecessaryandSufficient DifferenceBetweenTermsandConditions DifferenceBetweenEssentialandNecessary DifferenceBetweenImportantandSignificant DifferenceBetweenUrgentandImportant AbouttheAuthor:koshalKoshalisagraduateinLanguageStudieswithaMaster'sDegreeinLinguistics LeaveaReplyCancelreply Youremailaddresswillnotbepublished.Requiredfieldsaremarked*CommentName* Email* Website FeaturedPosts YouMayLike LatestPosts WhatistheDifferenceBetweenPyuriaandBacteriuria WhatistheDifferenceBetweenAlloyandCopperAC WhatistheDifferenceBetweenImipenemandMeropenem WhatistheDifferenceBetweenPhenolphthaleinAlkalinityandTotalAlkalinity WhatistheDifferenceBetweenOvulatoryandAnovulatoryCycles WhatistheDifferenceBetweenStannousFluorideandSodiumMonofluorophosphate Home Vacancies About RequestArticle ContactUs