Mandamus

/mænˈdeɪməs/ · noun

Meaning

(law) A common law prerogative writ that compels a court or government officer to perform mandatory or purely ministerial duties correctly..

Definitions by Sense

1. (law) A common law prerogative writ that compels a court or government officer to perform mandatory or purely ministerial duties correctly.
2. (transitive) To serve a writ of this kind upon.

Example Sentences

I admit to all my learned friends that a Mandamus does not issue where there is another course of proceeding by which the thing can be effected; but I again state to your Lordships, that if in this case a Mandamus must not issue, there is no other proceeding that can be adopted.

And then it was moved that the court would grant a mandamus to the delegates to admit the bishop's allegations: and it was compared to the cases where they grant mandamuses to compel the granting of probates of wills or letters of administration.

A mandamus is a writ commanding the execution of an act, where otherwise justice would be obstructed, or the king's charter neglected, issuing regularly only in cases relating to the public and the government; and is therefore termed […] a prerogative writ.

The lord is compellable by mandamus to admit the surrenderee, that is, the person to whose use the surrender is made.

Synonyms for mandamus

Antonyms for mandamus

Related Words

Word Forms

• mandamuses
• mandamusing
• mandamused

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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