Origin: Latin suffix -ment
Enforcement has 2 different meanings across 1 category:
the act of enforcing; ensuring observance of or obedience to
"The new city council is focusing on enforcement by issuing more fines for illegal parking in residential zones."
The act of enforcing; compulsion.
"The city's strict enforcement of parking rules left many drivers frustrated when they received tickets for minor infractions."
In plain English: Enforcement is the act of making sure rules and laws are actually followed.
"The new law requires strict enforcement to reduce traffic accidents."
Usage: Enforcement refers to the official action of ensuring rules or laws are obeyed, such as a police officer's enforcement of traffic regulations. It describes the process of making compliance mandatory rather than voluntary.
The word entered English from Old French as enforcement, derived from the verb enforce combined with the suffix -ment. It originally carried the meaning of an act or process of enforcing something.