Standard Lemma guide

enactment

noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Canada, General-American: /ɛnˈæktmənt/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: EH0 N AE1 K T M AH0 N T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: EH0 N AE1 K M AH0 N T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The act of enacting, or the state of being enacted.

The act of playing the part of.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • The actors' powerful enactment of the play was breathtaking.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The act of enacting, or the state of being enacted.

The act of making (a bill) into law.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: law

Examples

  • The enactment of this law will be a great step backward for our country.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A piece of legislation that has been properly authorized by a legislative body.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: law

Examples

  • The enactments passed by the council that year included sweeping reforms.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

acting the part of a character on stage; dramatically representing the character by speech and action and gesture

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: portrayal, characterization, personation

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: acting, playing, playacting, performing

Narrower terms: impression, character, role, theatrical role, part, persona

5

noun

Meaning 5

the passing of a law by a legislative body

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: passage

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: legislation, legislating, lawmaking

6

noun

Meaning 6

a legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: act

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: legal document, legal instrument, official document, instrument

Narrower terms: nullity, decree, edict, fiat, order, rescript, legislative act, statute

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English enact Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥ Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥tom Proto-Italic *-mentom Latin -mentum Old French -mentbor. Middle English -ment English -ment English enactment From enact + -ment.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Indonesian: pemeragaan — the act of enacting
  • Irish: achtú — the act of enacting
  • Irish: achtachán — the act of enacting
  • Portuguese: encenação — the act of enacting
  • Spanish: enactuación — the act of enacting
  • Māori: whakaturetanga — the act of making into law
  • Spanish: enactuación — the act of making into law
  • Azerbaijani: göstəriş — a piece of legislation that has been properly authorized by a legislative body
  • German: Verabschiedung — a piece of legislation that has been properly authorized by a legislative body
  • German: Annahme — a piece of legislation that has been properly authorized by a legislative body
  • Indonesian: undang-undang — a piece of legislation that has been properly authorized by a legislative body
  • Irish: achtachán — a piece of legislation that has been properly authorized by a legislative body
  • Irish: dlí — a piece of legislation that has been properly authorized by a legislative body
  • Irish: ordú — a piece of legislation that has been properly authorized by a legislative body
  • Irish: acht — a piece of legislation that has been properly authorized by a legislative body
  • Malay: enakmen — a piece of legislation that has been properly authorized by a legislative body
  • Spanish: enactuación — a piece of legislation that has been properly authorized by a legislative body
Real reading context

enactment in complete knowledge articles