enact

verb

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

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
i-ˈnak-tər How to pronounce enact (audio)
noun

Synonyms

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Republicans are hoping to raise the nation’s borrowing limit, which caps how much money the Treasury Department can owe to pay the country’s bills, by up to $5 trillion this year as part of a larger package to extend expiring tax cuts enacted through Trump’s signature 2017 tax law. — Aris Folley, The Hill, 18 Apr. 2025 The Florida Sheriff's Association announced in February that all county jails had signed agreements in compliance with a state law enacted in 2022. — Julia Ingram, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2025 Political back-and-forth The Obama administration enacted among the most ambitious energy efficiency standards for appliances and equipment to date. — David J. Vogel, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2025 Later in the day, Rep. Chris Turner, a Grand Prairie Democrat, offered an amendment to strike the bill’s enacting clause, rendering the proposal moot. — Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for enact

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

Rhymes for enact

See All Rhymes for enact

Browse Nearby Words

enabler
enact
enaction
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Enact.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enact. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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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
-ˈak-tər How to pronounce enact (audio)
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

Nglish: Translation of enact for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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