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Synonyms

enforcer

American  
[en-fawr-ser, -fohr-] / ɛnˈfɔr sər, -ˈfoʊr- /

noun

  1. a person or thing that enforces.

  2. the member of a group, especially of a gang, charged with keeping dissident members obedient.

  3. a person, especially 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.

Etymology

Origin of enforcer

First recorded in 1570–80; enforce + -er 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

If Bovino was as smart as he thinks he is, he would’ve followed the longtime strategy of another longtime immigration enforcer.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

SW: Some will say he did not start as many games as Mickael Guillard, who was great as well, but Meafou showed, particularly in the last round, why you need that enforcer in your pack.

From BBC • Mar. 16, 2026

Her top civil enforcer, Mark Hamer, resigned the day before Slater stepped down.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 2, 2026

It even seemed as if she was more concerned with being an enforcer than a scorer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 16, 2026

I mumble thanks for the advice, feeling like I’ve just been stripped naked by the crazed enforcer of some ancient sumptuary law: No chatting for you, girl.

From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.