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ENFORCER

 - 6 dictionary results

en⋅forc⋅er

  [en-fawr-ser, -fohr-]
Use ENFORCER in a Sentence
–noun
1. a person or thing that enforces.
2. the member of a group, esp. of a gang, charged with keeping dissident members obedient.
3. a person, esp. a public official, who enforces laws, regulations, rules, or the like.
4. Also called policeman. Ice Hockey. a physically intimidating or willingly belligerent player who is counted on to retaliate when rough tactics are used by the opposing team.
Origin:
1570–80; enforce + -er 1

en⋅force

  [en-fawrs, -fohrs]
–verb (used with object), -forced, -forc⋅ing.
1. to put or keep in force; compel obedience to: to enforce a rule; Traffic laws will be strictly enforced.
2. to obtain (payment, obedience, etc.) by force or compulsion.
3. to impose (a course of action) upon a person: The doctor enforced a strict dietary regimen.
4. to support (a demand, claim, etc.) by force: to enforce one's rights as a citizen.
5. to impress or urge (an argument, contention, etc.) forcibly; lay stress upon: He enforced his argument by adding details.
Origin:
1275–1325; ME enforcen < AF enforcer, OF enforcier, enforc(ir), equiv. to en- en- 1 + forci(e)r to force

Related forms:
en⋅force⋅a⋅ble, adjective
en⋅force⋅a⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, noun
en⋅forc⋅ed⋅ly  [en-fawr-sid-lee, -fohr-] , adverb
en⋅forc⋅er, noun
en⋅forc⋅ive, adjective

Synonyms:
1. administer, impose, execute, apply.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To ENFORCER
en·force   (ěn-fôrs', -fōrs')   
tr.v.   en·forced, en·forc·ing, en·forc·es

  1. To compel observance of or obedience to: enforce a law.

  2. To impose (a kind of behavior, for example): enforce military discipline.

  3. To give force to; reinforce: "enforces its plea with a description of the pains of hell" (Albert C. Baugh).


[Middle English enforcen, from Old French enforcier, to exert force, compel, and from enforcir, to strengthen : en-, causative pref.; see en-1 + force, strength; see force.]
en·force'a·bil'i·ty n., en·force'a·ble adj., en·force'ment n., en·forc'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Slang Dictionary
enforcer

  1. n.
    a bully; a thug or bodyguard. : Sam is the perfect enforcer. Meaner than all get out.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Word Origin & History

enforce 
1340, from en- "make, put in" + force.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: en·force
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: en·forced; en·forc·ing
: to cause to take effect or to be fulfilled <enforcing the divorce decree> enforce this article by appropriate legislation —U.S. Constitution amendment XIX>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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