enabler

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   One who or that which helps something to happen.

   The computer is an essential enabler of the conversation.

2. 2
   noun

   One who encourages a bad habit in another (typically drug addiction) by their behavior.

   In business, due to the stigma of alcoholism, enablers have their jobs and incomes at stake if their boss's secret is uncovered.

3. 3
   noun

   One who gives someone else the power to behave in a certain way.

   “ [Donald J.] Trump wants to mothball billions of dollars in investment and cancel one of the best new sources of American-made, renewable energy,” Mr. [William] Tong said. “Trump and his enablers will own the resulting cost increases for ratepayers.”

Etymology

From enable + -er.