nonenforcement
noun
non·en·force·ment
ˌnän-in-ˈfȯr-smənt 
-en-
: failure or refusal to enforce or carry out something (such as a law or order) : lack of enforcement
their nonenforcement of the new rule
Examples of nonenforcement in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In a separate opinion, dissenting in part, Rao disagreed that prescription requirements of the Federal Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act apply to drugs administered for capital punishment and asserted that prisoners had no authority to challenge its nonenforcement.
—
Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2020
And some states significantly limit the level of nonenforcement that lower jurisdictions can exercise, Politico reports.
—Sarah Matusek, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Aug. 2022
Some states forbid blanket nonenforcement by local prosecutors.
—Zachary Price, WSJ, 28 Apr. 2022
The vogue for nonenforcement has swept cities across the country, while opponents have largely responded with abstract critiques.
—Zachary Price, WSJ, 28 Apr. 2022
The nonenforcement of laws against rioting and looting has become common in big cities.
—Victor Davis Hanson, National Review, 13 Aug. 2020
More than 90% of counties in the commonwealth have passed resolutions signaling defiance and nonenforcement of potential gun control laws.
—John Gage, Washington Examiner, 14 Jan. 2020
The ruling was the second time a federal judge has rebuffed the Trump administration’s nonenforcement of the methane rule.
—Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2018
Legislative reform is the long-term answer, but administrative nonenforcement seems like the only readily available option.
—Jim Newell, Slate Magazine, 27 Jan. 2017
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Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2020
And some states significantly limit the level of nonenforcement that lower jurisdictions can exercise, Politico reports.
—Sarah Matusek, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Aug. 2022
Some states forbid blanket nonenforcement by local prosecutors.
—Zachary Price, WSJ, 28 Apr. 2022
The vogue for nonenforcement has swept cities across the country, while opponents have largely responded with abstract critiques.
—Zachary Price, WSJ, 28 Apr. 2022
The nonenforcement of laws against rioting and looting has become common in big cities.
—Victor Davis Hanson, National Review, 13 Aug. 2020
More than 90% of counties in the commonwealth have passed resolutions signaling defiance and nonenforcement of potential gun control laws.
—John Gage, Washington Examiner, 14 Jan. 2020
The ruling was the second time a federal judge has rebuffed the Trump administration’s nonenforcement of the methane rule.
—Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2018
Legislative reform is the long-term answer, but administrative nonenforcement seems like the only readily available option.
—Jim Newell, Slate Magazine, 27 Jan. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Nonenforcement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonenforcement. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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