English · Word Candidate

mandate

/ˈmændeɪ̯t/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: mandates · mandating · mandated

Sense 1

Meaning · English

An official or authoritative command; an order or injunction; a commission; a judicial precept; an authorization.

Noun

Examples

Enactive. Expositive. / Art. 57. XIII 2. The Registrative, or say Recordative: exercised, by the arrangements and operations, by which, in conformity to corresponding ordinances and mandates, the accounts, given at different periods by the exercise of the statistic function, are kept in contiguity,

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

The order or authority to do something, as granted to a politician by the electorate.

Noun

Examples

John Tyler and James K. Polk both regarded the election results as a mandate for the annexation of Texas.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

To (officially) require someone to do something or act in a certain way, to give them the authority to do so; to command.

Verb

Examples

A delegate conference was called, and garages invited to mandate their representatives to vote for or against continuance.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

To make mandatory.

Verb

Examples

Federal law mandates that at least one nongroup insurer in your state must provide coverage to everyone, regardless of health issues.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “mandate” mean?

An official or authoritative command; an order or injunction; a commission; a judicial precept; an authorization.

Is “mandate” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.