obrigatória

Obrigatória is the feminine form of the Portuguese adjective obrigatório, meaning something that is required or compulsory. It describes conditions, rules, or items that must be followed or fulfilled, often by law, regulation, contract, or norm. The term is commonly used in education, administration, documentation, and procedures. Examples include educação obrigatória (compulsory education), participação obrigatória (mandatory participation), and documentos obrigatórios (required documents).

Morphology and etymology: The word derives from the verb obrigar, to oblige or bind, and the suffix -tório, which forms adjectives related to a function or characteristic. The masculine form is obrigatório, the feminine is obrigatória, with plural obrigatórios and obrigatórias. The adverbial form obrigatoriamente denotes doing something in a mandatory manner.

Usage and nuance: obrigatória signals a non-negotiable requirement in a given context, contrasting with facultativo (optional or voluntary). In legal and administrative texts, it marks duties or compulsory provisions, such as cláusula obrigatória (mandatory clause), campo obrigatório (required field), or lista de documentos obrigatórios. In education, it indicates standards or practices that must be followed or completed.

Related terms: obrigatoriedade (the state or quality of being obligatory), obrigação (an obligation), and obrigar (to oblige). The adverb obrigatoriamente is used when describing how something must be done.