mandatorily

Mandatorily is an English adverb used to describe actions or requirements that are mandated or imposed as a legal, regulatory, or organizational obligation. It signifies that the action is not optional but compelled by an authority, such as a law, policy, contract, or rule. The term is derived from the adjective mandatory, which in turn comes from Latin mandatus through French and English development; the adverbial form mandatorily is formed by adding -ly to mandatory, and is more common in formal or bureaucratic contexts.

Usage in legal and administrative language often describes things as mandatorily required or mandatorily enforced. Examples include: "All employees must complete the security training mandatorily." or "The record must be kept mandatorily for audit purposes." In everyday English, more common constructions are "mandatory" or "required," but mandatorily remains in legal or policy texts and other formal writing.

Synonyms and related terms include mandatory, compulsory, obligatory, and required. Adverbial equivalents include obligatorily and compulsorily. Antonyms would be voluntary or optional. The word is typically reserved for formal, rule-driven contexts rather than casual speech.

See also: Mandatory, Compulsory, Obligatory.

Word usage notes: Some style guides prefer simpler phrases like "must" or "required" rather than "mandatorily," arguing that it can be overly formal or legalistic. The choice depends on context, tone, and the level of precision desired.