imposed

American  

[im-pohzd] / ɪmˈpoʊzd /

adjective

1. laid on by someone, especially an authority, as something to be endured, obeyed, paid, etc..

   Offenders receive swiftly imposed but meaningful community service assignments, which the court monitors daily for compliance.

2. thrust or forced upon someone else, as one’s tastes, ideas, company, etc..

   I pray for my children to grow confidently into who they have been created to be, free from the pressure of imposed reputation and expectation.

3. created or established forcibly or artificially rather than developing naturally.

   All living systems organize and reorganize themselves into adaptive patterns and structures without any externally imposed plan or direction.

---

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of impose.

Other Word Forms

• subimposed adjective
• unimposed adjective
• well-imposed adjective

Etymology

Origin of imposed

impose ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

But not enough refineries were built to keep up with demand for the fuel and in recent years governments have imposed higher taxes on it.

From Barron's • Apr. 4, 2026

The Forestry Commission, which carried out the investigation, said it was the highest ever fine imposed on a case of illegal tree felling by a court in England.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

They are mostly imposed by the United States.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

The country last week imposed temporary export curbs on naphtha because of a supply crunch as shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have stalled since late February.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

But polyrhythm conceived from scratch by a composer, written down on the page, imposed on the Western symphony orchestra, player by player, was an utterly novel concept.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

Related Words

• prescribed
• required
• sanctioned