1
: in or into conflict with
ran afoul of the law
2
: in or into collision or entanglement with

Examples of afoul of in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Texas has run afoul of that law twice over the past decade. Silas Allen, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Oct. 2025 Noem’s overtly partisan message may run afoul of the law, legal experts told McClatchy News. Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2025 Some journalists argued that such activity as posting a call for tips on social media would run afoul of the rules. Ted Johnson, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2025 This allows both employers and employees to sever the relationship more cleanly, without automatically running afoul of various labor laws. Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for afoul of

Word History

Etymology

afoul "fouled, tangled," from a- entry 1 + foul entry 1

First Known Use

1819, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of afoul of was in 1819

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Afoul of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/afoul%20of. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

afoul of

preposition
1
: in or into collision or entanglement with
one ship ran afoul of the other
2
: in or into conflict with
they fell afoul of the law
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