enact

verb

en·​act i-ˈnakt 

enacted; enacting; enacts

transitive verb

1

: to establish by legal and authoritative act

specifically : to make into law

enact a bill

2

: act out

enact a role

enactor

i-ˈnak-tər 

noun

Synonyms

• pass
• constitute
• legislate
• approve
• make

Examples of enact in a Sentence

Congress will enact legislation related to that issue.

The law was finally enacted today.

Recent Examples on the Web

Employers who provide health insurance benefits for the bulk of working-age Americans might choose to enact restrictions. —Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025

It was enacted in 1953 in response to growing concerns about government officials’ practice of holding secret meetings to conduct business outside of the view of the public. —Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2025

The Idaho law at issue, Senate Bill 1100, was enacted in 2023. —Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 17 Sep. 2025

Republicans will need Democratic votes in the Senate — and likely the House despite its GOP majority — in order to enact any stopgap funding bill. —Erin Doherty, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for enact

• abstract
• attacked
• attract
• contact
• contract
• detract
• distract
• exact
• extract
• hijacked
• impact
• intact

Kids Definition

enact

verb

en·​act in-ˈakt 

1

: to make (as a bill) into law

enact legislation

2

: to act out

enact a scene from a play

enactor

-ˈak-tər 

noun

Legal Definition

enact

transitive verb

en·​act i-ˈnakt 

: to establish by legal and authoritative act : make into law

enact a bill