English Reference
Adjective

forcible

adj.
C1 Advanced US /ˈfɔɹsəbəɫ/ UK /fˈɔːsəbəl/ forcible

adj.done by using physical force or violence. You use this to describe an action that happens against someone's will.

adj.done by or involving the use of physical force or violence. Often used in legal or formal contexts to describe the removal of a person or the taking of property.


SIMPLE

The police made a forcible entry into the building.

CONTEXTUAL

The government faced international criticism after the forcible removal of the protesters from the square.

COMPLEX

The legal team argued that the property was taken forcible and without due process, rendering the subsequent sale invalid under international law.

And thirdly, we need to reverse the trend of forcible displacement in the West Bank.

UN News· 27 Aug 2026

Gregory Binns, 27, is charged with sexual assault, assault by choking and forcible confinement.

Toronto Sun· 14 Aug 2026

From Middle English forcible, forsable, from Old French forcible, from forcier (“to conquer by force”), equivalent to force + -ible.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Old French forcible
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated