Meaning & use
afoul
Last updated
Into conflict or trouble with someone or something, especially a rule or authority.
See it in a sentence
The company ran afoul of environmental regulations after the spill.
He fell afoul of his manager by missing three deadlines in a row.
A note on using this word
Almost always used in the fixed phrase 'run afoul of' or 'fall afoul of'; rarely appears elsewhere.
Words with a similar meaning
in conflict
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
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