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Enforce: meaning, definitions and examples

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enforce

 

[ ɪnˈfɔːs ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

law

Compel observance of or compliance with (a law, rule, or obligation)

Synonyms

administer, apply, implement

Examples of usage

  • The role of the police is to enforce the law.
  • The school enforces a strict dress code.
  • The new regulations will be enforced from next month.
Context #2 | Verb

authority

Make sure that a law, rule, or system is obeyed or followed

Synonyms

enact, execute, uphold

Examples of usage

  • The supervisor enforces the company policies.
  • The teacher enforces classroom rules.
  • It is the duty of the government to enforce regulations.

Translations

Translations of the word "enforce" in other languages:

🇵🇹 aplicar

🇮🇳 लागू करना

🇩🇪 durchsetzen

🇮🇩 menegakkan

🇺🇦 застосовувати

🇵🇱 egzekwować

🇯🇵 施行する (shikō suru)

🇫🇷 appliquer

🇪🇸 hacer cumplir

🇹🇷 uygulamak

🇰🇷 집행하다 (jiphaenghada)

🇸🇦 فرض

🇨🇿 vynucovat

🇸🇰 uplatňovať

🇨🇳 执行 (zhíxíng)

🇸🇮 uveljaviti

🇮🇸 framfylgja

🇰🇿 қолдану

🇬🇪 დამატება

🇦🇿 tətbiq etmək

🇲🇽 hacer cumplir

Etymology

The word 'enforce' originated in Middle English from the Old French word 'enforcier', which means 'to strengthen'. It has been used since the 14th century in the context of compelling observance or compliance with laws or rules. Over time, 'enforce' has become a common term in legal and authoritative settings to denote ensuring adherence to regulations and obligations.

See also: force, forced, forceful, forcefully, forcemeat, forces, forcing, unforced.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,967, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.