Obligatoire

Obligatoire is a French adjective meaning mandatory, obligatory, or required by law, rule, or contract. It describes things that must be done or observed. In French, the form is the same for masculine and feminine singular: obligatoire. In plural, it becomes obligatoires for both masculine and feminine: obligatoires. Examples include un cours obligatoire (a compulsory course) and des vaccinations obligatoires (mandatory vaccinations). A form field may be labeled champ obligatoire to indicate a required entry.

Etymology and cognates: obligatoire comes from the verb obliger (to oblige) and ultimately from Latin obligare, meaning to bind or constrain. The concept is closely related to obligation. In other languages, related terms include obligatory in English, obligatorio in Spanish, and obligatoire in other Romance languages.

Usage and context: The term is widely used in legal, administrative, educational, medical, and social contexts to mark requirements. It can refer to laws, regulations, contracts, or official guidelines. The contrast with facultatif (optional) helps distinguish between mandatory and voluntary elements. In signage or forms, indicators such as "Champ obligatoire" or "Champ non obligatoire" guide behavior or data entry.

See also: obligation, obligation légale, facultatif. The word is commonly encountered in public discourse, policy documents, and everyday communications, where clarity about what is required helps ensure compliance and standardization.