enforce

verb

en·​force in-ˈfȯrs 

en-

enforced; enforcing; enforces

transitive verb

1

: to give force to : strengthen

2

: to urge with energy

enforce arguments

3

: constrain, compel

enforce obedience

4

obsolete : to effect or gain by force

5

: to carry out effectively

enforce laws

enforceability

in-ˌfȯr-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

en-

noun

enforceable

in-ˈfȯr-sə-bəl 

en-

adjective

enforcement

in-ˈfȯr-smənt 

en-

noun

Synonyms of enforce

• implement
• apply

Examples of enforce in a Sentence

Police will be enforcing the parking ban.

the duty of the police is to enforce the law

Recent Examples on the Web

Local 42’s attorneys had previously filed a motion asking a Jackson County judge to hold the city in contempt, arguing that officials had failed to carry out a previous judgment in the case from March that enforced the arbitrator’s decision. — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 8 Sep. 2026

District attorneys and the attorney general would be able to bring lawsuits to enforce it. — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 8 Sep. 2026

In California, the law will be enforced by retail water providers, including government water districts, private water companies and city water departments, according to the State Water Resources Control Board, which also has enforcement authority. — Paul Rogers, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026

This might include punishments for cheating enforced by a system of peer auditing, for example. — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French enforcer, from en- + force force

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing enforce

• enforce the law

Rhymes for enforce

• concourse
• divorce
• endorse
• indorse
• midcourse
• outsource
• perforce
• racehorse
• remorse
• seahorse
• workforce
• workhorse

Kids Definition

enforce

verb

en·​force in-ˈfō(ə)rs 

-ˈfȯ(ə)rs

1

: to bring about by force : compel

enforce obedience

2

: to carry out effectively

enforce the law

enforceable

-ˈfōr-sə-bəl 

-fȯr-

adjective

enforcement

-ˈfōr-smənt 

-fȯr-

noun

enforcer noun

Legal Definition

enforce

transitive verb

en·​force

enforced; enforcing

: to cause to take effect or to be fulfilled

enforcing the divorce decree

Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation

—U.S. Constitution amend. XIX