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mandamus
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As a noun, mandamus means a common law prerogative writ that compels a court or government officer to perform mandatory or purely ministerial duties correctly. As a verb, it means serve a writ of this kind upon.
Meanings of mandamus
3 meaningsnoun
lawA common law prerogative writ that compels a court or government officer to perform mandatory or purely ministerial duties correctly.
An extraordinary writ commanding an official to perform a ministerial act that the law recognizes as an absolute duty and not a matter for the official's discretion; used only when all other judicial remedies fail
Similar: writ of mandamus
verb
To serve a writ of this kind upon.
Meanings from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).