enactment
gb/ɪnˈæktmənt/ us/ɪnˈæktmənt/
C1
English
~ 9100
Senses
0 senses
Noun
formal
C1
action
1
the act of making a law
The official act of making a law, rule, or policy start to have legal force.
Usage pattern:
the enactment of [a law/policy/measure]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "enactment" (the noun) with "enact" (the verb). Use "enactment of the law", not *"enact of the law". Spelling mistakes like *"inactment" are also common. In everyday speech, people more often say "the passing of a law" than "the enactment of a law".
Synonyms
passage (Used especially in politics for the process of a bill being approved and becoming law; slightly less formal-legal than "enactment".)
|
legislation (Often refers to both the process and the body of laws; more general and broader than a single act of enactment.)
Antonyms
repeal (Refers to the official ending or cancellation of a law, which is the opposite of bringing a law into force.)
Collocations
the enactment of legislation
|the enactment of the law
|swift enactment
|upon enactment
|after enactment
|date of enactment
Themes
law
|politics
|government
Examples
- The rapid enactment of the new privacy law surprised many observers.
- Public pressure played a key role in the enactment of the anti-corruption measures.
- The treaty will take effect thirty days after its enactment by both houses of parliament.
- Delays in the enactment of the budget caused uncertainty for local governments.
- Advocacy groups are campaigning for the enactment of stronger climate legislation.
Learner examples
- The enactment of the new law will change how banks work.
- Many people protested to stop the enactment of that policy.
- The tax rules will only apply after the enactment of the bill.
- We are waiting for the enactment of new safety rules.
- The president promised the quick enactment of the reforms.
Noun
technical
C2
entity
2
a law that has been passed
A law or rule that has already been officially made and now has legal force.
Usage pattern:
[an/the] enactment [about/on something]
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that "enactment" can also mean the law itself, not only the process. In legal texts, "enactment" as a countable noun often behaves like "statute" or "act": you can say "this enactment", "several enactments".
Synonyms
statute (A standard legal term for a written law passed by a legislature; usually more common than "enactment" for the law itself.)
|
act (A common legal word for a single law passed by a legislature; slightly broader and more widely used than "enactment".)
Antonyms
bill (A draft law that has not yet been passed; contrasts with an "enactment", which is already in force.)
Collocations
legal enactments
|statutory enactment
|parliamentary enactment
|recent enactments
|criminal law enactments
Themes
law
|government
|documents
|politics
Examples
- Under this enactment, landlords must give sixty days' notice before raising the rent.
- The court held that the older enactment still applied to the case.
- Several enactments on data protection were introduced in the last decade.
- This enactment replaced three earlier pieces of tax legislation.
- Local authorities must comply with national enactments on building safety.
Learner examples
- The new enactment protects workers in small companies.
- This enactment says companies must share clear price information.
- Many people do not know what is in that enactment.
- Some enactments are very hard for normal people to read.
- The old enactment was removed and a new one was added.
Noun
C1
action
3
performance or acting out of something
The act of playing or showing a scene, story, or role, usually with people acting it in real life.
Usage pattern:
the enactment of [a scene/role/event]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes mix up "enactment" and "reenactment". Use "reenactment" when you mean acting out something again, especially a historical event. Also, do not confuse the noun "enactment" with the phrasal verb "act out"; for example, say "an enactment of the scene", not *"an act out of the scene".
Synonyms
performance (A broader word for acting or playing something in front of others; less specific about the idea of "acting out" a particular event or role.)
|
reenactment (Usually refers specifically to acting out a past event again, often historically; more specific than general "enactment".)
Antonyms
description (Refers to explaining something in words only, without acting it out physically.)
Collocations
dramatic enactment
|theatrical enactment
|role enactment
|ritual enactment
|enactment of a scene
Themes
arts
|psychology
|education
|arts_entertainment
|communication
Examples
- The play is a powerful enactment of the struggles faced by migrant workers.
- In therapy, clients may explore their feelings through the enactment of key life events.
- The ceremony included a symbolic enactment of the community’s founding story.
- Students took part in an enactment of a famous court case to learn about the legal system.
- The film is less a realistic story and more an enactment of the director’s personal fears.
Learner examples
- The class watched an enactment of the story on stage.
- In the workshop, we did an enactment of a job interview.
- The enactment of the battle helped students understand history.
- In the movie, the enactment of his dream felt very real.
- The teacher used an enactment of a family dinner to teach new words.
Grammar
Dictionary form
enactment
IPA
GB/ɪnˈæktmənt/
US/ɪnˈæktmənt/
Syllables & stress
en - act - ment (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (act)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: enactment
- Plural: enactment, enactments
Word family
Expressions
date of enactment
1/dˈeɪt əv ɪnˈæktmənt/
fixed phrase
formal
the day a law takes effect
The exact day when a law is officially approved and starts to be a law.
Examples
- The regulations apply to all contracts signed after the date of enactment.
- From the date of enactment, companies will have six months to meet the new standards.
enactment into law
1/ɪnˈæktmənt ˈɪntu lˈɔ/
fixed phrase
formal
the process of making a bill law
The official step where a bill is approved and becomes a law.
Examples
- The enactment into law of the reform package is expected by the end of the year.
- After its enactment into law, the bill will change how schools are funded.
upon enactment
1/əpˈɑn ɪnˈæktmənt/
fixed phrase
formal
at the moment the law starts
At the time when a law is officially approved and starts to have force.
Examples
- Upon enactment, the law will ban all single-use plastic bags in supermarkets.
- The agency must issue new guidelines within ninety days upon enactment of this statute.