Definition

Adjective: 1. Not enforced; not compelled or made effective, especially by legal or police action: Describes a rule, law, or order that exists but is not actively implemented or made obligatory. - Example: The parking restriction is largely unenforced, so many people ignore it. 2. Not carried out or executed: Refers to something, typically an official decision or judgment, that has not been put into practice. - Example: The court's ruling remained unenforced for years due to administrative delays.

Usage Examples

• General Use:
  • The city has many unenforced regulations regarding noise levels after midnight.
  • An unenforced contract is of little practical value to either party.
• Legal Context:
  • Critics argue that an unenforced law undermines the authority of the legal system.
  • The judgment was rendered but left unenforced, leaving the victim without recourse.

Advanced Usage

• "de facto unenforced": A law or rule that is technically active but is, in reality and practice, not applied.
  • The old statute remains on the books but is de facto unenforced.
• "unenforced and forgotten": Used to emphasize that a rule has not been applied for so long it is no longer remembered or considered relevant.
  • The policy became unenforced and forgotten over the decades.

Variants and Related Words

• Enforce (verb): To compel observance of or compliance with (a law, rule, or obligation).
  • The police are tasked to enforce the traffic laws.
• Enforcement (noun): The act of compelling observance of or compliance with a law, rule, or obligation.
  • Strict enforcement of the new policy began last month.
• Enforceable (adjective): Capable of being enforced.
  • For a contract to be valid, its terms must be enforceable.

Synonyms

• Ignored: Refused to take notice of or acknowledge; disregarded.
• Neglected: Failed to care for or give proper attention to.
• Inoperative: Not working or taking effect.
• Dormant: Temporarily inactive or inoperative.

Antonyms

• Enforced: Caused to be carried out effectively.
• Implemented: Put (a decision, plan, agreement, etc.) into effect.
• Executed: Carried out or put into effect (a plan, order, or course of action).
• Applied: (Of a rule or law) brought into operation or used.

Related Phrases and Concepts

• "A dead letter": A law or treaty that has not been repealed but is obsolete and no longer enforced.
  • The prohibition against that trade is now considered a dead letter.
• "To let something slide" (idiom): To choose not to take action over a mistake or transgression; to allow a rule to go unenforced informally.
  • The teacher decided to let the minor infraction slide this time.

Adjective

1. not enforced; not compelled especially by legal or police action
   • too many unenforced laws can breed contempt for law