enabler
Americannoun
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a person or thing that enables something, or makes it possible.
Technology is a key enabler of efficiency and productivity.
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a person who enables or supports someone else’s bad or dysfunctional behavior.
His wife is an unwitting enabler who makes excuses for his drinking.
Usage
What does enabler mean? An enabler is someone who allows or makes it easier for someone to do what they shouldn’t. It’s especially used in the context of addiction and abuse.The verb enable is usually used in a positive or neutral way meaning to make possible or provide someone with the power, means, opportunity, or authority to do something.But the word enabler is almost always used in a critical way to refer to someone who allows, encourages, or makes it possible for another person to engage in behavior that’s harmful to others, such as abuse, or self-destructive, such as drug or alcohol abuse.For example, a parent who allows the other parent to abuse their children might be called an enabler.Example: He asked me to go out for one drink, but I don’t want to be an enabler, so I told him we could go to a movie instead.
Etymology
Origin of enabler
First recorded in 1610–20; 1975–80 enabler for def. 2
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.
Not the ravenous hatred of the murderers and their enablers, but the quiet courage of decent people.
“Micron is in the best competitive position in its history and is one of the semiconductor industry’s biggest enablers of AI,” Mehrotra said.
He said that if British police were to launch an investigation into Epstein's activities and his enablers, Kate would be happy to help.
From BBC
European officials say Washington is also open to providing enablers such as intelligence and logistical support.
Chronert and his team expect “idiosyncratic behavior” among the AI enablers and the portfolio construction will also be complicated by the 40% weighting these stocks represent in the S&P 500.
From MarketWatch
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.
