Other forms: enforced, enforcing, enforces
To enforce is to make people actually follow a rule, with power behind it. Enforce the law, strictly enforced, enforce a contract.
A rule nobody enforces is not much of a rule, which is why the word carries so much weight in law and in complaints about parking. Enforcement is the noun, and law enforcement is the standard American term for the police. Note enforceable, which decides whether a contract clause is worth anything; and enforced, which as an adjective means imposed — an enforced absence, enforced idleness.
1verbenforceTo make people actually follow a rule.
“Police will enforce the new speed limit with cameras along the main road.”
enforce is an act of compelling.
Old French enforcier comes from Latin in plus fortis, strong. Force, fort, comfort and effort are the same strength, so to enforce is to put strength behind.
Latin
infortiāre
Old French
enforcier
Middle English
enforcen
English, today
enforce
Built from
From Middle English enforcen, from Old French enforcier, from Latin infortiāre, from in- + fortis (“strong”).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA