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Definition of obligatorily

obligatorily

/əˌblɪɡəˈtɔːrəli/
ob · li · ga · to · ri · ly
Adjective:obligatory
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obligatorily Lexical Profile

obligatorily Game Scores & Validity

• adverb

1

In a manner required by a legal, moral, or social rule; by obligation or necessity.

Example

"All new employees are obligatorily enrolled in the company's safety training program during their first week."

2

In biology, in an obligate manner, such that an organism is restricted to a single specific mode of life or host to survive.

Example

"Certain deep-sea bacteria are obligatorily anaerobic and cannot survive in the presence of oxygen."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for obligatorily

• Nearby Words

objector
obligate
obligation
obligatorily
obligatory
oblige
obliged

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in English from the adjective 'obligatory' plus the adverbial suffix '-ly'. 'Obligatory' derives from Late Latin 'obligatorius', from Latin 'obligare' ('to bind or oblige'), combining 'ob-' ('to, toward') and 'ligare' ('to bind').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Obligatorily. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/obligatorily
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