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Synonyms

enforcer

American  
[en-fawr-ser, -fohr-] / ɛnˈfɔr sər, -ˈfoʊr- /

noun

  1. a person or thing that enforces.

  2. the member of a group, especially of a gang, charged with keeping dissident members obedient.

  3. a person, especially a public official, who enforces laws, regulations, rules, or the like.

  4. Also called policeman.  Ice Hockey. a physically intimidating or willingly belligerent player who is counted on to retaliate when rough tactics are used by the opposing team.

Etymology

Origin of enforcer

First recorded in 1570–80; enforce + -er 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Her top civil enforcer, Mark Hamer, resigned the day before Slater stepped down.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 2, 2026

A former military officer in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Ali Larijani leads Iran’s most powerful security body, the Supreme National Security Council, and is Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s chief diplomatic fixer and enforcer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 1, 2026

Vietnam's ruling Communist Party "unanimously" re-elected To Lam as general secretary on Friday, confirming the former security enforcer as the country's top leader for the next five years and backing his vision for growth-oriented change.

From Barron's • Jan. 23, 2026

Now a new film follows the life of Jones, described by one US law enforcer as the "best conman" he had ever come across.

From BBC • Dec. 31, 2025

It was beyond him; he was simply an enforcer, not a prince.

From "The Princess Bride" by William Goldman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.