non-enforceable
|non-en-force-a-ble|
🇺🇸
/ˌnɑnɪnˈfɔrsəb(ə)l/
🇬🇧
/ˌnɒnɪnˈfɔːsəb(ə)l/
not legally able to be enforced
Etymology
'non-' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'non', where 'non' meant 'not'. 'enforceable' comes from 'enforce' + suffix '-able'; 'enforce' originates from Middle English and Old French (e.g. Old French 'enforcier'/'enforcer') ultimately related to 'force' (from Latin root 'fort-/'fortis' meaning 'strength, power').
'non-enforceable' was formed by prefixing the negative 'non-' to the adjective 'enforceable'. 'Enforce' developed through Old French into Middle English as 'enforcen'/'enforcen' and later modern English 'enforce', to which the productivity suffix '-able' was added to form 'enforceable', and finally the prefix 'non-' produced 'non-enforceable'.
Initially, the verb 'enforce' had senses of 'to strengthen' or 'to force'; over time it came to mean 'to compel observance or compliance'. Consequently 'enforceable' came to mean 'capable of being compelled or executed', and 'non-enforceable' now means 'not capable of being compelled or executed'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
not capable of being enforced, especially a law, contract, judgment, or regulatory requirement (i.e., it cannot be legally compelled or executed).
The court found the penalty clause non-enforceable because it was excessively punitive.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/13 04:21