Obligaat

Obligaat is a term used in Dutch and some other languages to denote something that is mandatory or binding. As an adjective it means compulsory or required; as a noun it can refer to an obligation or a mandatory element within a system, contract, or procedure. Etymology: from Latin obligatus 'bound, obligated,' via French obligation and Italian obbligato; the Dutch form obligaat reflects the adaptation of the Italian musical term (obbligato) and the general Latin root.

In music, obligaat (often rendered in English as obbligato) refers to a part that is essential and cannot be omitted. An obbligato line is a melodic or decorative figure that accompanies the principal material but is considered indispensable to the composition, often performed by a specific instrument.

In legal and administrative contexts, obligaat describes requirements that bind parties. A clause or provision may be described as obligaat, indicating it is mandatory rather than optional. The English equivalents are obligatory, mandatory, or binding; in Dutch, obligaat is common in formal writing and regulatory language.

The use of obligaat signals a formal, binding character in law or a defined musical role in scores; it should not be confused with optional provisions or facultative elements. See also obligatory, obbligato, obligato.