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compulsory

adjective/kəmˈpʌlsəri/

definition

required by law or a rule

example

In many countries, education is compulsory for children up to a certain age.

synonyms
mandatoryobligatoryrequired
word origin — from Latin 'compulsorius', from 'compellere' meaning 'to drive together'

compulsory, cosmopolitan, simultaneous, concise, adaptable: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 1 set 244. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

  1. compulsory · adjective/kəmˈpʌlsəri/

    required by law or a rule

    In many countries, education is compulsory for children up to a certain age.

    Synonyms: mandatory, obligatory, required

    Origin: from Latin 'compulsorius', from 'compellere' meaning 'to drive together'

  2. cosmopolitan · adjective/ˌkɑːz.məˈpɑː.lɪ.tən/

    having a global perspective and consisting of people from many different cultures and countries

    The city's cosmopolitan atmosphere attracts tourists from all over the world, eager to experience its diverse culture.

    Synonyms: sophisticated, worldly, multicultural

    Origin: The word 'cosmopolitan' comes from the Greek 'kosmopolites', meaning 'citizen of the world' ('kosmos' meaning 'world' and 'polites' meaning 'citizen').

  3. simultaneous · adjective/ˌsɪmətˈeɪnəs/

    occurring or existing at the same time

    The two events took place at **simultaneous** times, causing a remarkable overlap in attendance.

    Synonyms: contemporaneous, synchronous, concurrent

    Origin: from Latin 'simultaneus', from 'simul' meaning 'at the same time'

  4. concise · adjective/kənˈsaɪs/

    expressing or covering much in few words

    Her presentation was concise and to the point, making it easy for everyone to understand the key concepts.

    Synonyms: succinct, brief, terse

    Origin: The word 'concise' originates from the Latin word 'concisus', which is the past participle of 'concidere' meaning 'to cut up' or 'to cut off'.

  5. adaptable · adjective/əˈdæp.tə.bəl/

    able to adjust to new conditions

    The team's adaptable nature allowed them to pivot quickly when the project requirements changed.

    Synonyms: flexible, versatile, adjustable

    Origin: from Latin 'adaptabilis', from 'adaptare', meaning 'to adjust, to fit to'