enactment

American  

[en-akt-muhnt] / ɛnˈækt mənt /

noun

1. the act of enacting.

2. the state or fact of being enacted.

3. something that is enacted; a law or statute.

4. a single provision of a law.

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Other Word Forms

• nonenactment
  noun
• reenactment
  noun

Etymology

Origin of enactment

First recorded in 1810–20; enact + -ment

Explanation

The process of making something into a law is enactment. The enactment of new legislation in your town means that you'll now have to keep your dog on a leash in all public parks. Enactment comes from the verb enact, which has long been used to mean "establish as law." This legal terminology has "act" at its center, meaning both "to do" and "written proof of something that's been said, done, or agreed to." Legitimizing this kind of act as law is where enactment comes in. You can also use this word for the resulting law itself: "The enactment doesn't affect me — I never let my dog off her leash anyway."

Example Sentences

Enactment of that law is projected to help the United States cut its emissions 40 percent below 2005 levels by the end of this decade.

From New York Times • Aug. 24, 2022

Enactment of the law was delayed during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic to ease the process for restaurants and bars already battered by revenue losses and closures.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2022

Enactment of the ban followed 13 years of work by a coalition to educate the public on the dangers of secondhand smoke.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 6, 2021

Enactment of this system will by no means address all of our campaign finance problems.

From Washington Post • Jan. 20, 2020

Presently, the Legal Member, talking 'shop' to the Head of a Department, mentioned his Bill by its full name—'The Sub-Montane Tracts Ryotwary Revised Enactment.'

From The Kipling Reader Selections from the Books of Rudyard Kipling by Kipling, Rudyard

Related Words

• legislation
• proclamation
• ratification