enact

verb

en·​act i-ˈnakt How to pronounce enact (audio)
enacted; enacting; enacts

transitive verb

1
: to establish by legal and authoritative act
specifically : to make into law
enact a bill
2
: act out
enact a role
enactor noun

Examples of enact in a Sentence

Congress will enact legislation related to that issue. The law was finally enacted today.
Recent Examples on the Web At least half of those states have enacted or passed measures pledging to switch to permanent daylight time if Congress changes the rules to allow for such an action. Diba Mohtasham, NPR, 8 Mar. 2024 The bipartisan infrastructure law enacted in 2022 included $15 million for the removal of the pipes. Katie Bernard, Kansas City Star, 8 Mar. 2024 Even if laws are enacted, policing them will be exceedingly difficult. Charles Bethea, The New Yorker, 7 Mar. 2024 For all its potential advantages, BYD hasn’t made it to the United States yet, stymied in part by a steep 25 percent tariff on Chinese cars first enacted by the Trump administration. IEEE Spectrum, 5 Mar. 2024 The right to sue had been suspended by every president since the law was first enacted but was reinstated by President Donald Trump. Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024 In a unanimous decision, the court reversed the Colorado Supreme Court’s December decision that Trump is disqualified from running for president by a constitutional amendment enacted after the Civil War to keep insurrectionists from holding office. USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2024 Since it was enacted in 1958, the French Constitution has been amended 17 times. Barbara Surk, Fortune Europe, 4 Mar. 2024 And there is skepticism regarding how much Abbas will be willing to relinquish power or enact any deep overhaul that go beyond a change of faces in a government. Hazem Balousha, Washington Post, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'enact.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of enact was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near enact

Cite this Entry

“Enact.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enact. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

enact

verb
en·​act in-ˈakt How to pronounce enact (audio)
1
: to make (as a bill) into law
enact legislation
2
: to act out
enact a scene from a play
enactor noun

Legal Definition

enact

transitive verb
en·​act i-ˈnakt How to pronounce enact (audio)
: to establish by legal and authoritative act : make into law
enact a bill

More from Merriam-Webster on enact

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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