Pronunciation: /əˈfaʊl ʌv/

Definitions of afoul of

noun a word that functions as the name of a specific person, place, thing, or idea

Example Sentences

A1 I accidentally ran afoul of the rules in the game.

A2 The new employee unknowingly went afoul of company policy.

B1 The politician found himself afoul of the law after the scandal broke.

B2 The company was at risk of going afoul of regulations if they didn't make changes.

C1 The journalist's investigative reporting often led her afoul of powerful figures.

C2 The CEO was careful not to go afoul of any ethical boundaries in his business dealings.

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

Example Sentences

A1 I accidentally ran afoul of the rules by entering the restricted area.

A2 She didn't realize she was afoul of the law until the police stopped her.

B1 The company found itself afoul of regulations due to improper waste disposal.

B2 The politician's controversial statements ran afoul of public opinion and led to a drop in popularity.

C1 The company's unethical practices have repeatedly run afoul of international laws and regulations.

C2 The scientist's groundbreaking research ran afoul of traditional scientific beliefs, but ultimately led to new discoveries.

Examples of afoul of in a Sentence

formal The company found itself afoul of the law due to their unethical business practices.

informal He always seems to be afoul of his boss's rules.

slang Don't get afoul of the bouncer at the club, he's known to be strict.

figurative She was constantly afoul of her own emotions, never able to find peace within herself.

Grammatical Forms of afoul of

past tense

ran afoul of

plural

run afoul of

comparative

more afoul of

superlative

most afoul of

present tense

runs afoul of

future tense

will run afoul of

perfect tense

has run afoul of

continuous tense

is running afoul of

singular

runs afoul of

positive degree

afoul of

infinitive

to run afoul of

gerund

running afoul of

participle

afoul of

Origin and Evolution of afoul of

First Known Use: 1601 year
Language of Origin: English
Story behind the word: The phrase 'afoul of' originated from nautical terminology, specifically referring to a ship's rigging becoming entangled or fouled.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the phrase 'afoul of' has evolved to be used more broadly in non-nautical contexts to mean coming into conflict or opposition with something or someone.