Meaning & use
enforcement
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Meaning
noununcountable
The process of making people obey a law, rule, or agreement.
Grammar: Usually uncountable: you say 'enforcement of the law', not 'an enforcement'.
Patterns
- enforcement of something
- law enforcement
- strict enforcement
The enforcement of traffic laws has reduced accidents.
The company faced tough enforcement of environmental regulations.
Better enforcement is needed to stop illegal fishing.
Common combinations
- law enforcement
- Law enforcement officers arrived quickly at the scene.
- enforcement of
- The enforcement of the new policy begins next month.
- strict enforcement
- Strict enforcement of the rules is necessary.
- enforcement action
- The agency took enforcement action against the polluter.
- enforcement agency
- The enforcement agency investigates complaints.
Synonyms and how they differ
- implementation
- Focuses on putting a plan or law into effect, while enforcement stresses making people obey it.
- application
- Can mean the act of putting something into practice, but is more general and less about compulsion.
Opposites
Word family
- enforce verb
- To make people obey a rule or law.
- enforceable adjective
- Able to be enforced.
- enforcer noun
- A person who makes sure rules are obeyed.
Commonly confused: enforcement or legislation?
enforcement vs legislation
Legislation is the making of laws; enforcement is making sure they are obeyed.
Practice
The _____ of the new law will require more police officers.
Choose one answer.
The noun 'enforcement' fits after 'the'. 'Enforce' is a verb, 'enforcing' is a gerund but would need a different structure, and 'enforced' is a past participle.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “enforcement”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.