enforce

verb

en·​force in-ˈfȯrs 

en-

enforced; enforcing; enforces

transitive verb

1

: to give force to : strengthen

2

: to urge with energy

enforce arguments

3

: constrain, compel

enforce obedience

4

obsolete : to effect or gain by force

5

: to carry out effectively

enforce laws

enforceability

in-ˌfȯr-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

en-

noun

enforceable

in-ˈfȯr-sə-bəl 

en-

adjective

enforcement

in-ˈfȯr-smənt 

en-

noun

Synonyms

• administer
• apply
• execute
• implement

Examples of enforce in a Sentence

Police will be enforcing the parking ban.

the duty of the police is to enforce the law

Recent Examples on the Web

Earlier this month, a U.S. District Court judge ruled that the CTA was likely unconstitutional and imposed a nationwide preliminary injunction barring FinCEN from enforcing it while the government's appeal winds its way through the court system. —Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024

Advertisement Nigerian President Bola Tinubu expressed sympathy for victims’ families and asked states and relevant authorities to enforce strict crowd control measures. —Dyepkazah Shibayan and Chinedu Asadu, Los Angeles Times, 21 Dec. 2024

Authorities have already arrested Yoon's defense minister, police chief and several other military commanders involved in the attempt to enforce the martial law decree, which harkened back to the days of authoritarian leaders the country hasn't seen since the 1980s. —Kim Tong-Hyung The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 21 Dec. 2024

While the Marines resumed operations days later, the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy continue to enforce stricter flight limitations. —Gord Magill, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French enforcer, from en- + force force

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing enforce

• enforce the law

Kids Definition

enforce

verb

en·​force in-ˈfō(ə)rs 

-ˈfȯ(ə)rs

1

: to bring about by force : compel

enforce obedience

2

: to carry out effectively

enforce the law

enforceable

-ˈfōr-sə-bəl 

-fȯr-

adjective

enforcement

-ˈfōr-smənt 

-fȯr-

noun

enforcer noun

Legal Definition

enforce

transitive verb

en·​force

enforced; enforcing

: to cause to take effect or to be fulfilled

enforcing the divorce decree

Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation

—U.S. Constitution amend. XIX