Definition
People or officials whose job is to make sure that laws, rules, or agreements are followed and obeyed.
Etymology
From 'enforce,' combining English 'en-' (put into) and 'force' (from Latin 'fortis' meaning 'strong'). The word emerged in the 1300s meaning 'to compel.' The plural '-ers' forms the agent noun.
Kelly Says
Ice hockey enforcers are fascinating because they're the only sport where a player's primary job is to commit controlled violence—they've become less common as rules changed, showing how culture shifts what we'll tolerate.
Translations
ARالعربية
مُنَفِّذو
mu-na-ffi-dhoo
BNবাংলা
প্রয়োগকারী
pro-yog-kar-ee
CACatalà
aplicadors
ap-li-ka-do-rs
CSČeština
vykonavci
vy-ko-nav-ci
DADansk
påtvungne
pa-t-vung-ne
DEDeutsch
Durchsetzer
doore-ts-et-ser
ELΕλληνικά
Εφαρμοστές
Ef-ar-mo-stes
ESEspañol
aplicador
ap-li-ka-dor
FAفارسی
اجباری
e-jab-a-ri
FISuomi
voimavalta
voh-i-ma-val-ta
FRFrançais
agents d'application
ah-zhn duh ap-li-ka-syon
GUGU
લાગુ કરવામાં આવ્યું છે
laagu karvaamaa aavyu che
HEעברית
מכריח
me-k-ri-ach
HIहिन्दी
प्रवर्तनकर्ता
pra-vart-na-karta
HUMagyar
erőszakosak
er-o-sz-a-kos-ak
IDBahasa Indonesia
pemberi enforcers
pem-be-ri en-for-sers
ITItaliano
applicatori
ap-pli-ka-to-ri
JA日本語
強制執行者
kyo-sei-shi-ki-sha
KMKM
ប្រើប្រាស់
pru-pra-su
KO한국어
강제력을 행사하는 사람
gang-je-ryeok-eul haeng-sa-haneun sa-ram
MRMR
कार्य करण्यात आले
kaarya karnyaat aale
MSBahasa Melayu
penguatkuasa
pen-gua-tu-a-sa
MYမြန်မာ
လုပ်ဆောင်
lo-she-saung
NLNederlands
handhavers
han-dha-vers
NONorsk
pålegger
pa-le-ger
PLPolski
egzekutorzy
eg-ze-ku-tor-zy
PTPortuguês
aplicantes
ap-li-kan-tes
RORomână
aplicatori
ap-li-ka-to-ri
RUРусский
принудители
pri-noo-di-te-li
SVSvenska
påtvingare
paht-ving-are
SWKiswahili
wajibika
wa-jib-i-ka
TAதமிழ்
முடுக்கம்
mu-dukkam
TEతెలుగు
బలవంతంగా
ba-la-van-tan-ga
THไทย
ผู้บังคับ
poo-be-kap
TLTL
mga nagpapatupad
mga na-ga-pa-ta-tu-pad
TRTürkçe
uygulamacılar
oo-yul-ma-ji-lar
UKУкраїнська
примусові
pri-mu-so-vi
URاردو
لاگو کرنے والے
la-goo ka-rne-wa-lay
VITiếng Việt
người áp đặt
ngoo-ee ap-dat
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Historically male-coded in law enforcement and organized crime contexts; women systematically excluded from enforcement roles until late 20th century.
Inclusive Usage
Use inclusively when any gender fills the role; avoid assuming male pronouns.
Inclusive Alternatives
["officers","agents","regulators"]
Empowerment Note
Women in law enforcement, from Lola Baldwin (first female police officer, 1905) to modern federal agents, fought for equal enforcement authority.