Word
enforce
Phoneticsen·force, stress on the second syllable
US/ɛnˈfɔɹs/
UK/ɛnfˈɔːs/
Definitions
01to apply a law or rule
B2 · Upper Intermediate Law Formal
v. to make sure that a law or rule is obeyed by everyone.
v. to compel obedience to a law, regulation, or command. Transitive — requires a direct object such as 'law', 'rule', or 'policy'.
日本語:取り締まる※
“The local government decided to enforce the new parking rules more strictly.”
“Regulatory bodies must have the necessary resources to enforce environmental standards effectively across the industrial sector.”
Usage
Commonly used with objects like 'law', 'rule', 'regulation', 'policy', or 'ban'.
Pitfall
The police enforced to the new speed limit.
The police enforced the new speed limit.
Enforce is a transitive verb; it takes a direct object without a preposition.
Synonyms
02to make something happen
C1 · Advanced Academic · Formal
v. to force a particular situation or action to happen.
v. to impose a condition or to ensure a particular outcome through the exercise of authority.
日本語:強制する※
“The teacher had to enforce a period of silence so the students could focus.”
“The treaty was designed to enforce a lasting peace between the two warring factions by establishing a neutral buffer zone.”
Usage
Often used when an authority figure requires a specific behavior or state of affairs.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “enforce” in context.
Verb
01. enforce a ban
“It is notoriously difficult to enforce a ban on smoking in outdoor public spaces.”
verb + noun
02. enforce compliance with the rules
“The new software is designed to enforce compliance with the rules of data privacy.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
03. fail to enforce the regulations
“The agency was criticized after it failed to enforce the regulations governing chemical waste.”
verb + infinitive
04. strictly enforce the law
“The local authorities have promised to strictly enforce the law regarding illegal parking.”
adv + verb
Noun
05. difficulty in enforcing
“The police cited the sheer volume of traffic as a major difficulty in enforcing the new speed limits.”
noun + prep
06. power to enforce
“The committee has the power to enforce sanctions against members who violate the code of conduct.”
noun + infinitive
Adverb
07. rigorously enforce
“Safety standards must be rigorously enforced to prevent accidents in the workplace.”
adv + verb
08. uniformly enforce
“The dress code was not uniformly enforced, leading to complaints from some employees.”
adv + verb
Real-World Examples
“There are less and less of us about."
The council said it had a legal duty to investigate noise complaints and it had a duty to enforce the rules.” “But in the last decade, he says, both the police and Trading Standards - a body enforcing consumer protection laws - have been squeezed.” “In the town of Moonhaven, Jax, Jovi, Esau and Fourth love nothing more than creeping out at the full moon, despite the curfew enforced by the sinister Nighthawks.” Etymology
From Middle English enforcen, from Old French enforcier, from Late Latin infortiāre, from in- + fortis (“strong”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/enforce
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0