enact

verb

en·​act i-ˈnakt 

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

i-ˈnak-tər 

noun

Synonyms of enact

• pass
• constitute
• legislate
• approve
• make

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

Contemporary sculpture, by contrast, is born transient, and can enact only contingent experiences of belonging. —Glenn Adamson, Artforum, 2 May 2026

When rule-making is enacted properly, its impact is not to abolish our freedoms nor restrain our lives, but rather to protect and expand our freedom by preventing others from violating our rights. —Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 2 May 2026

What wage insurance does is to take the kind of concept which was enacted by Congress in the early ’70s and apply it to a different cause for layoffs, the technological innovation which eliminates work. —Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 1 May 2026

European cars and trucks face a 15% tariff, enacted under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act. —Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 1 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for enact

• abstract
• attacked
• attract
• contact
• contract
• detract
• distract
• exact
• extract
• hijacked
• impact
• intact

Kids Definition

enact

verb

en·​act in-ˈakt 

1

: to make (as a bill) into law

enact legislation

2

: to act out

enact a scene from a play

enactor

-ˈak-tər 

noun

Legal Definition

enact

transitive verb

en·​act i-ˈnakt 

: to establish by legal and authoritative act : make into law

enact a bill