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.
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