mandate
An official order or requirement to do something; to officially require.
Examples
In a meeting
“The new regulation mandates annual security audits for all vendors.”
Over coffee
“The school mandated masks during flu season.”
Why this word
require
Mandate implies official authority or formal authorization, while require is more general and doesn't convey the institutional power behind the command
order
Mandate suggests a formal directive often from voters or governing bodies, while order is less specific about the source of authority
command
Mandate carries connotations of legitimate authority granted by a constituency or law, while command focuses on the act of ordering without the democratic or legal backing
Usage tip
Implies authority behind the requirement. A mandate isn't a suggestion — it must be followed. Common in policy, government, and compliance.
Etymology
Latin mandatum — manus (hand) + dare (to give), literally 'to give into someone's hand'
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Related words
stipulate
To demand or specify a requirement as part of an agreement.
rescind
To officially cancel or revoke a decision, law, or agreement
prerequisite
Something required before something else can happen
invoke
To cite or appeal to something as authority or justification
enforce
To make sure a rule or law is obeyed
empower
To give someone the authority or confidence to do something