enabling

American  

[en-ey-bling] / ɛnˈeɪ blɪŋ /

adjective

Law.

1. conferring additional legal powers or capacities, especially by removing a barrier to action, suspending required permission, or relaxing oversight: enabling power.

   an enabling act;

   enabling power.

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Etymology

Origin of enabling

First recorded in 1670–80; enable + -ing ²

Explanation

Enabling is a term used for laws that confer legal powers to someone or something. An enabling act makes it possible for authorities to take action. One meaning of the verb enable is "to provide with legal powers," so the adjective formed by adding -ing gets used to describe legislation that has that empowering effect. When new American states were formed out of frontier territories, they could either organize statehood themselves, or they could be admitted into the Union through an "enabling act" of Congress.

Example Sentences

AngloGold Ashanti reported a jump in quarterly earnings and record free cash flow, enabling a $2 billion share buyback and higher dividend.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

Changes like those in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch School District played out over decades on local governing bodies all over Texas, enabling representation of Latino and Black voters.

From Salon • May 7, 2026

Attorney Jeanine Pirro suspended the Powell inquiry on April 24, enabling Kevin Warsh’s confirmation as successor.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

Their goals include boosting energy efficiency and enabling continuous industrial operation over the coming decades.

From Science Daily • May 4, 2026

During those years when the nuns warned me about the dangers of intellectual pride and referred to Christ as Baby Jesus, they were enabling me to participate frilly in the liturgical life of the Church.

From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez

Related Words

• permissive