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.

Prerequisite vs Mandatory - What's the difference?

prerequisite | mandatory |

As adjectives the difference between prerequisite and mandatory

is that prerequisite is required as a prior condition of something else; necessary or indispensable while mandatory is obligatory; required or commanded by authority.

As nouns the difference between prerequisite and mandatory

is that prerequisite is something that must be gained in order to gain something else while mandatory is (dated|rare) a person, organisation or state who receives a mandate; a mandatary.

prerequisite

English

Adjective

(-)
  • Required as a prior condition of something else; necessary or indispensable.
  • Synonyms

    * See also

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Something that must be gained in order to gain something else
  • Having a decent qualification is a prerequisite to getting a good job in marketing.
  • In education, a course or topic that must be completed before another course or topic can be started. May be colloquially referred to as a prereq .
  • Algebra is typically a prerequisite for physics .

    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.
  • Anagrams

    *