afoul of
preposition
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
The city has also expressed concern that pushing ahead with more housing construction would run afoul of the California Environmental Quality Act.
—
Claire Wang, Oc Register, 9 May 2026
Fabianne Therese plays a young woman on a hike in the woods with her boyfriend (Seann William Scott) who runs afoul of a bizarre, imposing figure (pro wrestler Max the Impaler) with a porcelain doll mask intent on raising her as a child.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Then, one day later, on April 28, FCC chair Brendan Carr launched a review of ABC's broadcast licenses based on allegations that Disney's diversity programs run afoul of federal law and that The View violated the equal-time rule for political candidates.
—Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
The Gerodemos family is no stranger to running afoul of the law.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for afoul of
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Claire Wang, Oc Register, 9 May 2026
Fabianne Therese plays a young woman on a hike in the woods with her boyfriend (Seann William Scott) who runs afoul of a bizarre, imposing figure (pro wrestler Max the Impaler) with a porcelain doll mask intent on raising her as a child.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Then, one day later, on April 28, FCC chair Brendan Carr launched a review of ABC's broadcast licenses based on allegations that Disney's diversity programs run afoul of federal law and that The View violated the equal-time rule for political candidates.
—Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
The Gerodemos family is no stranger to running afoul of the law.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for afoul of
Cite this Entry
“Afoul of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/afoul%20of. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
afoul of
preposition1
: 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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