enforcer
Americannoun
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a person or thing that enforces.
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the member of a group, especially of a gang, charged with keeping dissident members obedient.
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a person, especially a public official, who enforces laws, regulations, rules, or the like.
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Also called policeman. Ice Hockey. a physically intimidating or willingly belligerent player who is counted on to retaliate when rough tactics are used by the opposing team.
Etymology
Origin of enforcer
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.
Ms. Debicki’s enforcer of norms is known only as the Tailor’s Wife, though before that she was Doctor’s Daughter.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026
Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb told Natland: "You agreed to be the enforcer and pursued it, despite numerous opportunities to extricate yourself."
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
Taeb, a cleric, was named commander of the Basij, the IRGC's vast youth militia, which has become notorious as an enforcer of security in Iranian neighbourhoods.
From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026
Her reputation as Clark’s right-hand and enforcer spread along with the viral clip.
From Salon ● Aug. 9, 2026
He stands there like an enforcer, his arms crossed and his stance wide.
From "Merci Suárez Changes Gears" by Meg Medina
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.