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Involuntary vs Mandatory - What's the difference?

involuntary | mandatory | Related terms |

As adjectives the difference between involuntary and mandatory

is that involuntary is without intention; unintentional while mandatory is obligatory; required or commanded by authority.

As a noun mandatory is

a person, organisation or state who receives a mandate; a mandatary.

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

    * *

    mandatory

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Obligatory; required or commanded by authority.
    • Attendance at a school is usually mandatory .
  • * 1999 , Ian Stewart, Jack Cohen, Figments of Reality: The Evolution of the Curious Mind , page 276
    • This kind of immediate control structure we take to be characteristic of the tribe, and it leads to a rather rigid type of system in which 'every action not mandatory is forbidden'.
  • Of, being or relating to a mandate.
    • Mandatory Palestine

    Synonyms

    * compulsory * obligatory

    Antonyms

    * (obligatory) optional * (obligatory) elective

    Derived terms

    * mandatoriness

    Noun

    (mandatories)
  • (dated, rare) A person, organisation or state who receives a mandate; a mandatary.

    • External links

    * * * Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary * The Oxford English Dictionary

    Anagrams

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