First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
enforce
verb en·force \in-ˈfȯrs, en-\
: to make (a law, rule, etc.) active or effective : to make sure that people do what is required by (a law, rule, etc.)
: to make (something) happen : to force or cause (something)
Full Definition of ENFORCE
transitive verb
1
: to give force to : strengthen
2
: to urge with energy <enforce arguments>
4
obsolete : to effect or gain by force
5
: to carry out effectively <enforce laws>
— en·force·abil·i·ty \-ˌfȯr-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun
— en·force·able \-ˈfȯr-sə-bəl\ adjective
— en·force·ment \-ˈfȯr-smənt\ noun
See enforce defined for English-language learners
See enforce defined for kids
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Origin of ENFORCE
Middle English, from Anglo-French enforcer, from en- + force force
Related to ENFORCE
- Synonyms
- administer, apply, execute, implement
Rhymes with ENFORCE
clotheshorse, concourse, crash course, dark horse, dawn horse, dead horse, deforce, discourse, divorce, dray horse, endorse, extrorse, golf course, gut course, high horse, introrse, iron horse, midcourse, of course, Old Norse, one-horse, packhorse, perforce, post-horse, racecourse, racehorse, recourse, redhorse, remorse, resource, retrorse, sawhorse, sea horse, stringcourse, trial horse, unhorse, warhorse, wheelhorse, Whitehorse, workhorse
ENFORCED Defined for Kids
enforce
verb en·force \in-ˈfȯrs\
en·forceden·forc·ing
Definition of ENFORCE for Kids
1
: to make happen <He tried to enforce cooperation.>
2
: to carry out or make effective <enforce a law>
— en·force·ment \–mənt\ noun
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