entail

[en-teyl, en-teyl, en-teyl]

verb (used with object)

1. to cause or involve by necessity or as a consequence.

   a loss entailing no regret.

2. to impose as a burden.

   Success entails hard work.

3. Law.,  to limit the passage of (real estate) to a specified line of heirs, so that it cannot be transferred or bequeathed to anyone else.

4. Law.,  to cause (anything) to descend to a fixed series of possessors.

noun

1. the act of entailing.

2. Law.,  the state of being entailed.

3. any predetermined order of succession, as to an office.

4. Law.,  something that is entailed, as an estate.

5. Law.,  the rule of descent settled for an estate.

entail

/ ɪnˈteɪl /

verb

1. to bring about or impose by necessity; have as a necessary consequence

   this task entails careful thought

2. property law to restrict (the descent of an estate) to a designated line of heirs

3. logic to have as a necessary consequence

noun

1. property law

   1. the restriction imposed by entailing an estate

   2. an estate that has been entailed

Other Word Forms

• entailer noun
• entailment noun
• preentail verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of entail¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Middle English entailen (verb), entail (noun), equivalent to en- ¹ + tail ² ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of entail¹

C14: entaillen , from _en- ¹ + taille limitation, _tail ²

Example Sentences

But Thompson said Marineland's lack of a viable alternative home for the belugas did not entail the Canadian government should foot the bill for their care.

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OpenAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment on what the more granular controls would entail.

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A number of veterans inside CBS News who were not authorized to speak publicly said they have a wait-and-see attitude over the pending Weiss appointment, as they are uncertain on what her role will entail.

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This will entail police forces across the country working in partnership with local businesses.

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Murdoch’s involvement would probably entail Fox Corp. investing in the deal, a source familiar with the matter who was not authorized to comment publicly told The Times.

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Related Words

• bring about 
• call for 
• encompass 
• involve 
• lead to www.thesaurus.com
• necessitate 
• require