Ability to influence; strength or energy of body or mind; active power; vigour; might; capacity of exercising an influence or producing an effect.
force — Definition and meaning
• A physical quantity that denotes ability to push, pull, twist or accelerate a body and which has a direction and is measured in a unit dimensioned in mass × distance/time² (ML/T²): SI: newton (N); CGS: dyne (dyn).
• The generalized abstraction of this concept.
• A particular form or type of force.
• A metaphysical and ubiquitous power from the fictional Star Wars universe created by George Lucas. See usage note. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}
• An instance of a physical force.
• Force understood as something of which there can be an amount.
• Anything that is able to make a substantial change in a person or thing.
• Something or anything that has the power to produce a physical effect upon something else, such as causing it to move or change shape.
• Something that exerts influence.
• Something that, over time, influences a system with which it interacts (with a connotation of underlyingness, subtlety, or indirectness).
• Power exerted against will or consent; compulsory power; violence; coercion. Either unlawful violence, as in a "forced entry", or lawful compulsion.
• Either unlawful violence, as in a "forced entry", or lawful compulsion.
• A group organized for the goal of attacking, controlling, or constraining, especially one with a set command structure (in particular, a military or police group).
• Any large, organized group involved in a military engagement.
• Military personnel, collectively, including any vehicles, ships, or aircraft. More broadly, the military or police altogether.
• Synonym of police force.
• The state of having legal weight, of being legally valid,.
• A magic trick in which the outcome is known to the magician beforehand, especially one involving the apparent free choice of a card by another person.
• Ability of an utterance or its element (word, form, prosody, ...) to effect a given meaning.
• The annualized instantaneous rate of change at a particular timepoint.
(Verb) To make someone or something do something, often regardless of their will.
• To constrain by force; to overcome the limitations or resistance of.
• To drive (something) by force, to propel (generally + prepositional phrase or adverb).
• To cause to occur (despite inertia, resistance etc.); to produce through force.
• To forcibly open (a door, lock etc.).
• To violate (a woman); to rape.
• To exert oneself, to do one's utmost.
• To obtain or win by strength; to take by violence or struggle; specifically, to capture by assault; to storm, as a fortress.
• To create an out by touching a base in advance of a runner who has no base to return to while in possession of a ball which has already touched the ground.
• To compel (an adversary or partner) to trump a trick by leading a suit that he/she does not hold.
• To put in force; to cause to be executed; to make binding; to enforce.
• To provide with forces; to reinforce; to strengthen by soldiers; to man; to garrison.
• To allow the force of; to value; to care for.
• To grow (rhubarb) in the dark, causing it to grow early.
(Noun) A waterfall or cascade.
(Verb) To stuff; to lard; to farce.
The importance of force
force appears in U.S. legal practice across multiple practice areas. Knowing what it means — and when it applies — can determine the outcome of motions, filings, and negotiations. For non-lawyers, the value of looking up a precise definition is that legal terms often carry meanings that differ from everyday usage; relying on the common meaning can lead to costly missteps.
How force is applied
In practice, force is invoked when parties, judges, or attorneys need to identify the legal status of an issue, the rights of those involved, or the procedural step required next. The definition shown above is sourced from Wiktionary , which is widely cited in U.S. legal practice. Because U.S. law is jurisdictionally layered — federal, state, and sometimes local — the precise application of the term can vary by court, so check the controlling authority for your specific case.