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

Magyar's Tisza party won 141 of parliament's 199 seats in the April 12 polls, a comfortable two-thirds majority enabling it to change the constitution and push through key reforms.

From Barron's • May 9, 2026

AngloGold Ashanti AU 1.65%increase; green up pointing triangle said higher gold prices helped deliver a jump in quarterly earnings, with record free cash flow enabling an up to $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

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

From Science Daily • May 4, 2026

She felt as if a mist had been lifted from her eyes, enabling her to look upon and comprehend the significance of life, that monster made up of beauty and brutality.

From "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin

Related Words

• permissive