unenforceable

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˌʌn.ɪnˈfɔːr.sə.bəl/ UK /ˌʌn.ɪnˈfɔː.sə.bəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #115909

Meanings

1

adj
of a law, rule, or policy, impossible or impracticable to make people obey

Without inspections or penalties, the proposed ban would be effectively unenforceable.
2

adj
of an agreement, obligation, or right, not capable of being upheld or given effect by a court

The judge held that the vague restraint in the contract was unenforceable.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · of a law, rule, or policy,... impracticable inoperative

2 adj · of an agreement,... invalidnonbinding

Opposites

enforceablebinding effective

Word family

Forms unenforceability

Derived forms unenforceability

Related forms enforce enforcement validity

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

unenforceable law
a law that authorities cannot effectively compel people to obey

Adjective + noun

Etymology

Formed from un-, 'not,' and enforceable. Enforce entered Middle English through Old French enforcier, 'to strengthen or compel,' from en- plus force. The word describes something to which legal or practical force cannot be applied.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# unenforceable

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˌʌn.ɪnˈfɔːr.sə.bəl/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌʌn.ɪnˈfɔː.sə.bəl/
**Frequency rank:** 115909

## Meanings
1. of a law, rule, or policy, impossible or impracticable to make people obey
2. of an agreement, obligation, or right, not capable of being upheld or given effect by a court

## Examples
- Without inspections or penalties, the proposed ban would be effectively unenforceable.
- The judge held that the vague restraint in the contract was unenforceable.

## Synonyms
- inoperative
- impracticable
- nonbinding

## Antonyms
- enforceable
- binding
- effective

## Derived Forms
- unenforceability

## Related Forms
- enforce
- enforcement
- validity

## Etymology
Formed from un-, 'not,' and enforceable. Enforce entered Middle English through Old French enforcier, 'to strengthen or compel,' from en- plus force. The word describes something to which legal or practical force cannot be applied.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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