Wordnet 3.0
NOUN (1)
1.
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;
[syn: mandamus, writ of mandamus]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
writ of mandamus
n 1: 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 [syn: mandamus,
writ of mandamus]