enabler

noun

en·​abler i-ˈnā-b(ə-)lər 

: one that enables another to achieve an end

especially : one who enables another to persist in self-destructive behavior (such as substance abuse) by providing excuses or by making it possible to avoid the consequences of such behavior

Did you know?

Enabling: The Behavior of an Enabler

Enable has a number of senses, most of which are some variant on allowing someone (or something, such as enabling cookies on a computer) to do something. In the past several decades, enable has also started to take on a new associated sense in the field of addiction studies, where enabling is viewed as giving misguided support to a person with some substance-abuse issue. A person who facilitates the self-destructive behavior of another is referred to as an enabler.

Examples of enabler in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Our rapid trajectory from $1 million to $100 million in annual recurring revenue in just a few years is proof that businesses are seeing the value, and slowly starting to shift from viewing GRC teams as a cost center to a business enabler. —Dave Smith, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025

Making his point, Cici said that biodiversity and the health of natural ecosystems are crucial enablers of growth as about half of global GDP, or $55 trillion, is moderately or heavily dependent on them. —Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2025

If connecting to the grid continues to take years, at least in some areas, and if gas turbine manufacturers don’t dramatically boost output, bridging power could become an indispensable enabler of the buildout of AI infrastructure. —IEEE Spectrum, 20 Oct. 2025

Did the President’s enablers in the Justice Department kill a criminal case against one of his top advisers? —Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for enabler

• abler
• glabellar
• stabler

Medical Definition

enabler

noun

en·​abler i-ˈnā-b(ə-)lər 

: one that enables another to achieve an end

especially : one who enables another to persist in self-destructive behavior (as substance abuse) by providing excuses or by helping that individual avoid the consequences of such behavior