self-enforcing

[self-en-fawr-sing, -fohr-]

adjective

1. of or having the capability of enforcement within oneself or itself; self-regulating.

Other Word Forms

• self-enforcement noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of self-enforcing¹

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

But eventually, the community adopted and even started self-enforcing them.

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But the question is why it failed; after all, treaties are not self-enforcing.

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Among the recommendations put forth by the city report is investing in so-called “self-enforcing infrastructure,” such as narrower streets, dedicated bike lanes and more clearly marked pedestrian crosswalks.

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Thus, some cities can employ “a little bit of psychology” by designing “self-enforcing” roads that regulate speeds through changes, for example, to the width of a roadway or shoulder or the creation of more intersections.

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The prohibition against firing the missiles into Russia would be self-enforcing, he added.

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