impose

The word “impose” means to officially establish or enforce a rule, tax, or penalty. In plain terms, to officially set a rule or burden, or to intrude on someone unfairly.

“Impose” is pronounced ihm-POHZ (/ɪmˈpoʊz/ in IPA).

Here is “impose” used in a sentence: “The government imposed new tariffs on imported steel.”

Words with a similar meaning to “impose” include enjoin, force, inflict and lay.

“Impose” is a verb.

The word “impose” comes from Latin. From Old French imposer, modelled on Latin imponere ("to place upon"), from in- + pono ("to place").

“Impose” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

“Impose” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to officially establish or enforce a rule, tax, or penalty.

To impose is to introduce or establish something such as a rule, tax, or penalty and require people to accept it, while to enforce is to make sure an existing rule is obeyed. You impose a rule when you create it and enforce it when you compel people to follow it.

Impose typically takes "on" or "upon," as in impose a tax on goods, impose a rule on a group, or impose on someone's hospitality. The preposition connects the thing imposed to the person or thing it affects.

Both involve forcing something on others, but impose often refers to establishing rules, taxes, or burdens, while dictate stresses giving orders that must be obeyed, sometimes in an authoritarian way. Dictate emphasises commanding, whereas impose emphasises establishing or forcing acceptance.