nonenforcement
|non-en-force-ment|
🇺🇸
/ˌnɑnənˈfɔrsmənt/
🇬🇧
/ˌnɒnɪnˈfɔːsmənt/
absence or withholding of enforcement
Etymology
'nonenforcement' originates from the prefix 'non-' (from Latin 'non' meaning 'not') combined with 'enforcement' (from Middle English 'enforcen' / Old French 'enforcier', meaning the act of enforcing or compelling).
'enforce' developed from Middle English 'enforcen' (borrowed from Old French 'enforcier'), which yielded the noun 'enforcement' in Modern English; the compound 'nonenforcement' was formed by adding the prefix 'non-' to denote the absence of enforcement.
Initially, 'enforce' had senses related to making strong or compelling; 'enforcement' has long meant the act of compelling observance, while 'nonenforcement' specifically came to mean the absence or deliberate withholding of that act.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the deliberate policy or decision not to enforce a law, rule, or regulation.
The agency's nonenforcement of the regulation drew public criticism.
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Noun 2
the omission, neglect, or failure to enforce a law, rule, or obligation (may be accidental or due to lack of resources).
Many accidents were linked to the nonenforcement of basic safety standards.
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Last updated: 2025/12/20 00:36