nonmandatory
Left to discretion
Nonmandatory means not required or compulsory.
Something nonmandatory is optional—you may do it, but nothing obliges you to: Attendance at the workshop is nonmandatory.
The term appears most often in bureaucratic, legal, or institutional contexts where distinguishing required from optional matters: nonmandatory guidelines, nonmandatory reporting.
Chosen, not mandated
- voluntaryDone by choice
- discretionarySubject to personal judgment
- facultativeCapable but not obligated
- noncompulsoryNot required by rule
nonobligatory · unenforced · unrequired · permissive · selective · alternative · preferential · at-will
Exceeding what suffices
- redundantExceeding what's needed
- unneededNot required at all
- extraneousNot pertinent or essential
- gratuitousGiven without necessity
dispensable · expendable · nonessential · inessential · surplus · excess · needless · unwarranted
Beyond the existing amount
- extraAdditional, beyond necessary
- ancillaryProviding additional support
- supplementaryServing to complete
- secondaryLesser in rank
subsidiary · auxiliary · add-on · complementary · supporting · adjunct · accessory · accompanying
Unpaid willing participant
- unpaidNot yet compensated
- charitableGiving to those needing
- philanthropicDevoted to human welfare
- pro bonoFree professional services
altruistic · donated · freewill · humanitarian · benevolent · grassroots · community · activist
elective
Chosen, not mandated
- voluntaryDone by choice
- discretionarySubject to personal judgment
- facultativeCapable but not obligated
noncompulsory · nonobligatory · unenforced · unrequired · permissive · selective · alternative · preferential · at-will · waivable
superfluous
Exceeding what suffices
- redundantExceeding what's needed
- unneededNot required at all
- extraneousNot pertinent or essential
gratuitous · dispensable · expendable · nonessential · inessential · surplus · excess · needless · unwarranted · peripheral
additional
Beyond the existing amount
- extraAdditional, beyond necessary
- ancillaryProviding additional support
- supplementaryServing to complete
secondary · subsidiary · auxiliary · add-on · complementary · supporting · adjunct · accessory · accompanying · enhancement
volunteer
Unpaid willing participant
- unpaidNot yet compensated
- charitableGiving to those needing
- philanthropicDevoted to human welfare
pro bono · altruistic · donated · freewill · humanitarian · benevolent · grassroots · community · activist · selfless
nonmandatorymandatory
Required by rule
obligatory · compulsory · required · requisite · binding
command, demand, mandate, commanding, commander, commanded, commands, commend, mandatory