What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Involuntary vs Compulsory - What's the difference?

involuntary | compulsory |

As adjectives the difference between involuntary and compulsory

is that involuntary is without intention; unintentional while compulsory is required; obligatory; mandatory.

As a noun compulsory is

something that is compulsory or required.

involuntary

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Without intention; unintentional.
    • He involuntarily overheard the conversation.
  • Not voluntary or willing; contrary or opposed to explicit will or desire; unwilling.
    • He found himself the involuntary witness in the trial.

    Synonyms

    * unbewised * unvoluntary

    Derived terms

    * involuntarily * involuntariness

    Related terms

    * volunteer

    References

    * *

    compulsory

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Required; obligatory; mandatory.
  • * 1827 , A. D. Jr., Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Journal , A. and C. Black, page 212:
    • They are entirely private concerns, established by individual teachers, and attendance upon them is no more compulsory than attendance on our dispensaries.
  • * 1996 , (Ugo Pagano), Democracy and Efficiency in the Economic Enterprise , page 73:
    • Some might agree that membership in the firm is perhaps more compulsory than membership in a municipality, but balk at applying the analogy to the nation.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-19, author=(Peter Wilby)
    • , volume=189, issue=6, page=30, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Finland spreads word on schools , passage=Imagine a country where children do nothing but play until they start compulsory schooling at age seven. Then, without exception, they attend comprehensives until the age of 16. Charging school fees is illegal, and so is sorting pupils into ability groups by streaming or setting.}}
  • Having the power of compulsion; constraining.

    • Synonyms

    * mandatory

    Antonyms

    * (required) optional

    Noun

    (compulsories)
  • Something that is compulsory or required.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2008, date=March 22, author=The Associated Press, title=French Victory in Ice Dance, work=New York Times citation
    • , passage=Delobel and Schoenfelder failed to win the free dance, but they had built a big lead in the compulsories and the original dance. }}