enforce

verb

en·​force in-ˈfȯrs How to pronounce enforce (audio)
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 noun
enforceable adjective
enforcement noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The estate enforced those rights, leading to an agreement from Wells to include a credit that acknowledges Crichton as the creator of the series. Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Feb. 2025 Instead, Washington should be even more aggressive in enforcing global rules and norms. Richard Nephew, Foreign Affairs, 24 Feb. 2025 This story has been updated to note that these smuggling attempts happened in the El Paso, Texas area and to clarify the enforcing agency. Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2025 On February 13, Judge Amy Berman Jackson reversed a White House Order sacking Hampton Dellinger as the head of the Office of Special Counsel, which provides a channel for whistleblowers and enforces impartiality among government workers. Mark Joseph, Newsweek, 24 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for enforce

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of enforce was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Enforce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enforce. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

enforce

verb
en·​force in-ˈfō(ə)rs How to pronounce enforce (audio)
-ˈfȯ(ə)rs
1
: to bring about by force : compel
enforce obedience
2
: to carry out effectively
enforce the law
enforceable adjective
enforcement 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 legislationU.S. Constitution amend. XIX

More from Merriam-Webster on enforce

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