afoul of

preposition

ə-ˈfau̇-ləv How to pronounce afoul of (audio)
1
: in or into conflict with
ran afoul of the law
2
: in or into collision or entanglement with

Examples of afoul of in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Beyond domestic challenges, CATL is also scrambling to build more plants in Europe to avoid running afoul of increasing EU protectionism. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 21 Oct. 2026 Four ethics experts contacted by the Herald said that, based on the publicly available information about the mayor’s job and the UM deal, Lago does not appear to have run afoul of any state ethics laws. — Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026 That could create an unusual situation in which an ordinary consumer turns on a feature built into a mainstream device and, at least technically, runs afoul of state law by using it during a private conversation without everyone's consent. — Mackenzie Sigalos,annie Palmer, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2026 Americans can brew beer in their kitchens and make wine at home, but just try making a bottle of whiskey or gin — and people can run afoul of a federal law that dates back more than 150 years. — Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for afoul of

Word History

Etymology

afoul "fouled, tangled," from a- entry 1 + foul entry 1

First Known Use

1819, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of afoul of was in 1819

Rhymes for afoul of

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Browse Nearby Words

afoul
afoul of
AFP
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Cite this Entry

“Afoul of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/afoul%20of. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

afoul of

preposition
ə-ˈfau̇-ləv How to pronounce afoul of (audio)
1
: in or into collision or entanglement with
one ship ran afoul of the other
2
: in or into conflict with
they fell afoul of the law
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