enforcer

American  

[en-fawr-ser, -fohr-] / ɛnˈfɔr sər, -ˈfoʊr- /

noun

1. a person or thing that enforces.

2. the member of a group, especially of a gang, charged with keeping dissident members obedient.

3. a person, especially a public official, who enforces laws, regulations, rules, or the like.

4. 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.

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Etymology

Origin of enforcer

First recorded in 1570–80; enforce + -er ¹

Example Sentences

That means insisting that the leadership and its main enforcers leave power.

From The Wall Street Journal

District Court in Sacramento says the proposed deal by eight state law enforcers, including California Atty.

From Los Angeles Times

SW: Some will say he did not start as many games as Mickael Guillard, who was great as well, but Meafou showed, particularly in the last round, why you need that enforcer in your pack.

From BBC

Residents said members of the paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and of the Basij, their plainclothes enforcers, are visible on the streets of Tehran and other Iranian cities.

From The Wall Street Journal

The pricing policy will also apply in Brazil, where a court earlier this week reinstated an interim injunction that antitrust enforcers imposed on Meta as part of their own investigation into the WhatsApp AI policy.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• assassin
• executioner