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mandate

MAN-dayt /ˈmændeɪt/

nounverbC1GREGMATUPSC

formallegal

An official order or commission to do something; the authority to carry out a policy.

A mandate can come from a law (legal mandate) or from the people (political mandate). In CSR, it refers to the 'social mandate'—the public's permission for a company to operate.

The story behind the word. From the Latin 'mandatum', literally 'given into one's hand.' It implies that a higher authority has placed a specific task or power directly into your hands to carry out.

Word relationships

directive: An official or authoritative instruction.
authorization: The action of giving official permission for something to happen.

prohibition: The action of forbidding something, especially by law.
veto: A constitutional right to reject a decision or proposal made by a law-making body.

Commonly confused with

mandatory: Mandate is the noun (the order); mandatory is the adjective (describing the required action).

Word family

mandated (adjective/verb): Required by law or official order.
mandatory (adjective): Required by law or rules; compulsory.

Collocations

legal mandate
social mandate
clear mandate
mandate for change

Example sentences

"The people have given us a mandate to change the way this city is run." A politician discusses the power given to them by the voters.
"The government issued a mandate requiring all corporations to disclose their annual water usage." The new law required all buildings to be energy efficient.

Memory hook

Think of 'Man-Date.' It's a 'date' (an appointment) that a 'man' (or authority) has given you to perform a task. Power placed in your hands.

When not to use

Don't use 'mandate' for a simple request or a suggestion; it must have the weight of authority behind it.

Fun facts

In the context of the League of Nations, a 'mandate' was a legal status for certain territories transferred from one country to another after WWI.