French word

obligatoirement

Pronunciation

IPA/obligatwaʁəmɑ̃/

Meaning

  • adverbcompulsorily

Example

L'école impose obligatoirement la présence aux cours.

The school makes attending classes compulsory.

Illustration for obligatoirement (compulsorily)

More examples

À l'entrée du site, les sacs sont obligatoirement contrôlés.

At the entrance to the site, bags are subject to mandatory inspection.

Core concept

A rule funnels an action into one required path.

Common phrases

  • porter obligatoirement un casque

    be obliged to wear a helmet

  • obligatoirement contrôlé

    be subject to mandatory inspection

Similar words

forcément: Bound to happen because of the circumstances.
nécessairement: Essential to achieve a particular purpose or satisfy a condition.
impérativement: Required by a command or an exceptionally strong demand.

Definition in French

De façon obligatoire, parce qu'une règle, une loi ou une décision l'ordonne.

Word origin

The adverb obligatoirement derives from obligatoire plus the adverbial suffix -ment, and obligatoire traces back to Late Latin obligatorius and obligare, 'to bind'.

Usage tips

  • Obligatoirement expresses an imposed requirement, whereas forcément usually expresses an unavoidable conclusion, so they are not interchangeable.

Other meanings

  • necessarilyadverb

Opposites

  • facultativementoptionallyadverb

Related words

Word lists with this word