enabler

English

Etymology

From enable +‎ -er.

Noun

enabler (plural enablers)

One who or that which helps something to happen.
- 2007, Andrew Sears, Julie A. Jacko, The Human-Computer Interaction Handbook, page 310:
  The computer is an essential enabler of the conversation.
- 2021 January 27, Richard Clinnick, “Network News: Electrification can be enabled by Class 810s - EMR”, in RAIL, issue 923, page 12:
  The introduction of 33 bi-mode trains from 2023 will be an enabler for electrification of the Midland Main Line, claims East Midlands Railway Commercial Director Chris Wright.
(psychotherapy) One who encourages a bad habit in another (typically drug addiction) by their behavior.
- 2004, Doug Thorburn, How to Spot Hidden Alcoholics, page 34:
  In business, due to the stigma of alcoholism, enablers have their jobs and incomes at stake if their boss's secret is uncovered.
One who gives someone else the power to behave in a certain way.
Synonyms: abettor, accomplice
- 2025 August 22, Lisa Friedman, Brad Plumer, Maxine Joselow, quoting William Tong, “Trump Administration Orders Work Halted on Wind Farm That Is Nearly Built”, in The New York Times‎^[1], →ISSN:
  “ [Donald J.] Trump wants to mothball billions of dollars in investment and cancel one of the best new sources of American-made, renewable energy,” Mr. [William] Tong said. “Trump and his enablers will own the resulting cost increases for ratepayers.”

Translations

one who helps something to happen

Afrikaans: bemagtiger
French: facilitateur (fr)
Indonesian: pemampu, pendaya, pemberdaya
Italian: facilitatore m, aiutante (it) m or f
Malay: pemboleh daya
Portuguese: facilitador m, habilitador m, capacitador m
Russian: фактор (ru) (faktor), катализатор (ru) (katalizator), активатор (ru) (aktivator), инструмент реализации (instrument realizacii), пособник (ru) (posobnik)
Serbo-Croatian: facilitator m, facilitatorica f, omogućavatelj m, omogućavateljica f
Spanish: facilitador m, habilitador (es) m, capacitador m, asesor (es) m, ayudante (es) m or f, asistente (es) m or f

one who encourages a bad habit in another

Afrikaans: bemagtiger
Finnish: mahdollistaja (fi)
French: complice (fr), facilitateur (fr)
Italian: incoraggiatore m, tentatore (it) m, ammaliatore (it) m, seduttore (it) m, ingannatore (it) m
Spanish: facilitador m, sonsacador (es) m, alcahuete (es) m or f

one who gives someone else the power to behave in a certain way

Afrikaans: bemagtiger
German: Steigbügelhalter (de) m, Komplize (de) m
Italian: ammaestratore m
Serbo-Croatian: omogućavatelj m, omogućavateljica f
Spanish: autorizador (es) m, habilitador (es) m

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Translations to be checked

Interlingua: ^{(please verify)} habilitator, ^{(please verify)} capabilitator

References

Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary.

Anagrams

belearn, renable