nonobligatory
Purely a choice
Nonobligatory means not required or compulsory—something you may do but don't have to.
It describes duties, payments, or actions that are optional rather than mandated: Attendance at the reception is nonobligatory.
The word appears most often in legal, academic, or bureaucratic contexts where distinguishing required from voluntary matters.
Chosen, not mandated
- discretionarySubject to personal judgment
- noncompulsoryNot required by rule
- nonmandatoryNot compulsory
- facultativeCapable but not obligated
permissive · choice · alternative · selective · preferential · advisable · supplementary · extra
Able to be sacrificed
- expendableAble to be sacrificed
- superfluousExceeding what suffices
- redundantExceeding what's needed
- inessentialNot strictly necessary
unneeded · needless · extraneous · gratuitous · unwarranted · peripheral · ancillary · incidental
Not yet compensated
- volunteerUnpaid willing participant
- charitableGiving to those needing
- pro bonoFree professional services
- altruisticConcerned for others' welfare
philanthropic · benevolent · humanitarian · donated · contributory · goodwill · selfless · community-based
elective
Chosen, not mandated
- discretionarySubject to personal judgment
- noncompulsoryNot required by rule
- nonmandatoryNot compulsory
facultative · permissive · choice · alternative · selective · preferential · advisable · supplementary · extra · additional
dispensable
Able to be sacrificed
- expendableAble to be sacrificed
- superfluousExceeding what suffices
- redundantExceeding what's needed
inessential · unneeded · needless · extraneous · gratuitous · unwarranted · peripheral · ancillary · incidental · accessory
unpaid
Not yet compensated
- volunteerUnpaid willing participant
- charitableGiving to those needing
- pro bonoFree professional services
altruistic · philanthropic · benevolent · humanitarian · donated · contributory · goodwill · selfless · community-based · grassroots
- above and beyondextra mile, outstanding, exceptional, exemplary, stellar
nonobligatoryobligatory
Required by rule
mandatory · compulsory · required · binding · requisite
obliging, obligation, voluntary, unnecessary, oblige, obligatory, nonessential, obligate