# How to Use Requirements Correctly: Tech English Mistakes (2026)

> The specific features, functions, or conditions that a software product or system must have to solve a business problem or meet user needs.

- **Term:** requirements
- **Part of speech:** noun
- **Pronunciation:** /rɪˈkwaɪərmənts/
- **English level (CEFR):** B2
- **Register:** Neutral, Both
- **Region:** US and UK
- **Topic:** [Agile and project terms](https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/topics/agile-project-management-terms.md)
- **Lesson:** https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/requirements
- **Last updated:** 2026-10-27

## Meaning

The specific features, functions, or conditions that a software product or system must have to solve a business problem or meet user needs.

In tech companies, requirements are the foundation of product development. They define what needs to be built before engineers start coding. Requirements come from business stakeholders, product managers, or clients and describe both functional aspects (what the system does) and non-functional aspects (performance, security, scalability). Requirements are typically documented in detail and serve as the contract between the team building the product and those requesting it. During planning phases, requirements are gathered, analyzed, and sometimes prioritized. They guide design decisions, testing strategies, and project scope.

## When you hear it

The product manager outlined all the requirements for the new authentication feature in the specification document.

## Examples

- **in a standup:** "We finished the API endpoint, but we need to review the requirements for the error handling first."
- **in a code review:** "This implementation doesn't match the requirements we agreed on; we need to add support for batch processing."
- **in a team meeting:** "Before we start development, let's make sure all the requirements are clear and everyone understands the scope."

## What native speakers say

- "Meet the requirements"
- "Clarify the requirements"
- "Requirements gathering"
- "Functional requirements"
- "Non-functional requirements"
- "The requirements are set in stone"

## Common mistakes

- ✗ "We need to requirements the system." → ✓ "We need to meet the requirements of the system." (Requirements is a noun, not a verb. Use 'meet,' 'fulfill,' or 'satisfy' with requirements.)
- ✗ "The client made a requirements yesterday." → ✓ "The client made a request yesterday." (Requirements are formal specifications, not casual requests. Use 'request' for a one-off ask.)
- ✗ "These are nice-to-have requirements." → ✓ "These are nice-to-have features or optional requirements." (True requirements are mandatory. Nice-to-have items are typically called features or lower-priority items.)

## Be careful

Do not confuse requirements (what must be done) with requests (what someone asks for). Requirements are formal specifications, not casual wishes.

## Word forms

| Part of speech | Word | Example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| noun | requirements | The requirements for this project are documented in Jira. |
| noun (singular/uncountable) | requirement | One key requirement is that the API must handle 10,000 requests per second. |
| adjective | required | The required fields are marked with an asterisk. |


## Collocations

- **gather requirements**: To collect and document what needs to be built
- **define requirements**: To specify clearly what the system must do
- **meet requirements**: To fulfill or satisfy all the specified needs
- **functional requirements**: Features and behaviors the system must perform
- **non-functional requirements**: Performance, security, and scalability specifications
- **business requirements**: What the organization needs the system to achieve
- **requirements document**: Formal specification detailing all project needs

## Synonyms

- **specifications**: More technical term; often used interchangeably in engineering contexts
- **specs**: Informal abbreviation of specifications; common in tech conversations
- **acceptance criteria**: More specific; describes exactly when a requirement is considered done

## Opposites

- constraints
- limitations

## Practice

This lesson has 4 practice exercises with instant feedback on the page: https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/requirements

## FAQ

### What is the difference between requirements and requests?

Requirements are formal, documented specifications that define what must be built. Requests are informal asks that may or may not be agreed upon. Requirements are binding; requests are not necessarily approved or prioritized.

### What are functional vs. non-functional requirements?

Functional requirements describe what the system does (e.g., users can log in with email). Non-functional requirements describe how well it performs (e.g., login must complete within 2 seconds, system must be 99.9% available).

### Who is responsible for gathering requirements?

Typically product managers, business analysts, or requirements engineers work with stakeholders, customers, and end users to gather requirements. The entire product team then uses these to build and test the solution.

### Can requirements change during a project?

Requirements can change, but it should be a controlled process. Major changes are managed through change requests and may affect scope, timeline, and budget. Agile teams review and refine requirements continuously in shorter cycles.

### How do you know if a requirement is met?

Each requirement should have clear acceptance criteria that describe exactly what done looks like. Testing teams verify that the implemented feature satisfies all acceptance criteria before marking the requirement as complete.


## Related

- [scope](https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/scope.md)
- [acceptance criteria](https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/acceptance-criteria.md)
- [backlog](https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/backlog.md)
- [user story](https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/user-story.md)
- [stakeholder](https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/stakeholder.md)
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