ENGLISH
REFERENCE

enact

v.
C1 Advanced Oxford US //ɪˈnækt// UK //ɛnˈækt// en·act

v. to make a proposal or a bill into an official law. It can also mean to perform a story or a play.

v. to establish by legal or legislative decree; to make into law. Also used to describe the performance of a role or the representation of a narrative.


SIMPLE

The government plans to enact new laws to protect the environment.

CONTEXTUAL

After months of public debate, the city council voted to enact a ban on single-use plastics in all local restaurants.

COMPLEX

The legislature moved quickly to enact the emergency measures, ensuring that the necessary funding reached the affected regions before the onset of the winter storms.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English enacten, from en-, from Old French en- (“to cause to be”), from Latin in- (“in”) and Old French acte (“perform, do”), from Latin actum, past participle of ago (“set in motion”).

Usage

The verb is transitive and requires a direct object, typically a law, bill, or regulation.

Pitfall

The law enacted last year.The law was enacted last year.In legal contexts, laws do not enact themselves; the verb must be used in the passive voice when the law is the subject.

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