Showing results for "imposed"

• past participle of impose.
• past tense form of impose.

imposed

American  

[im-pohzd] / ɪmˈpoʊzd /

adjective

1. laid on by someone, especially an authority, as something to be endured, obeyed, paid, etc..

   Offenders receive swiftly imposed but meaningful community service assignments, which the court monitors daily for compliance.

2. thrust or forced upon someone else, as one’s tastes, ideas, company, etc..

   I pray for my children to grow confidently into who they have been created to be, free from the pressure of imposed reputation and expectation.

3. created or established forcibly or artificially rather than developing naturally.

   All living systems organize and reorganize themselves into adaptive patterns and structures without any externally imposed plan or direction.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of impose.

Other Word Forms

• subimposed
  adjective
• unimposed
  adjective
• well-imposed
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of imposed

impose ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

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Explanation

Something that is imposed is usually unwelcome and unpleasant and is expected to be endured — like higher taxes or unwelcome guests. The adjective imposed comes from the Latin imponere, "to place upon, to inflict or deceive." An imposed tax is one placed upon you by law. The English word comes by way of the Middle French verb imposer, meaning "to lay a burden." So if you are imposed upon by an unwanted guest, you'll have to endure an imposed visit.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

imposed

The lender’s profits fell short of analysts’ expectations, even when excluding a $1.2 billion fine imposed over insufficient money-laundering and suspicious transaction controls.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026

Due to Bank of America's "egregious and continued" violations of the Bank Secrecy Act, the OCC imposed its biggest civil money penalty assessed against a bank, said Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan Gould.

From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026

Historically, private equity and private debt funds imposed lock-ups that prevented accredited investors from accessing their funds for long periods of time.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026

Uganda imposed restrictions on movement across its border with DR Congo shortly after the outbreak began in May.

From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026

In an unchanging universe a beginning in time is something that has to be imposed by some being outside the universe; there is no physical necessity for a beginning.

From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking

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Related Words

• prescribed
• required
• sanctioned

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