enact

verb

en·​act i-ˈnakt How to pronounce enact (audio)
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 noun

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
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.
This means advocating to reform systems and enact policies that prioritize women’ s needs and shrink coverage and affordability gaps. Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 8 Oct. 2025 California made history Wednesday by enacting the first law in the United States to define and ultimately ban unhealthy ultraprocessed foods, or UPFs, from meals served to over one billion California schoolchildren annually. Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025 The 19th-century statute, a combination of different laws enacted by Congress between 1792 and 1871, would allow the use of active-duty military personnel to perform law-enforcement duties within the United States. Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025 Composed of neighbors, parents, and community members, school boards are modern-day town halls where self-government is not just discussed but enacted. Scott Levy, Time, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for enact

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of enact was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Enact.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enact. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

enact

verb
en·​act in-ˈakt How to pronounce enact (audio)
1
: to make (as a bill) into law
enact legislation
2
: to act out
enact a scene from a play
enactor noun

Legal Definition

enact

transitive verb
en·​act i-ˈnakt How to pronounce enact (audio)
: to establish by legal and authoritative act : make into law
enact a bill

More from Merriam-Webster on enact

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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