Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of enforcement
1425–75; late Middle English < Anglo-French, Old French. See enforce, -ment
Explanation
Enforcement is when someone in a position of power makes sure you follow the rules, whether it’s a police officer pulling over a speeding car, or your brother catching you cheating at checkers. Most people benefit from the enforcement of laws, because it prevents criminals from taking advantage of others. You can see the word force inside enforcement, and it usually takes a little force to keep people from breaking rules. Enforcement may not make you a popular person – think of a hall monitor – but it does make for an obedient and organized life.
Vocabulary lists containing enforcement
Stay Strong: Forc and Fort
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Bush's Address on 9/11
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Holes
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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.
Watch how aging tankers are ferrying sanctioned oil to China—evading U.S. enforcement through a web of deceptive tactics.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026
Last month, he had sought information about a trip by Mountbatten-Windsor to Azerbaijan in 2011, but information was withheld by the Foreign Office on grounds including national security and law enforcement.
From BBC • May 30, 2026
Protesters clashed with US law enforcement outside an immigration detention center in New Jersey, a top US official said Friday, after inmates inside staged a hunger strike over conditions.
From Barron's • May 29, 2026
I was particularly curious about the members of Congress who have adorned the walls outside their offices with posters proclaiming their appreciation for the Capitol Police and law enforcement in general.
From Salon • May 29, 2026
There was no formal law enforcement in the area.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
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.
