afoul of
preposition
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
The Raiders’ apparent insistence that Wilkins have another surgery despite his preference otherwise appears to run afoul of the principle of autonomy, i.e., the right to control what is done to one’s own body.
—
Chris Deubert, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
Soliman, 51, arrived in the United States from Egypt in 2014, hoping to get asylum after running afoul of Egyptian authorities for his work as a freelance journalist.
—Dan Horn, The Enquirer, 14 July 2025
The Justice Department says the prosecution against Maxwell didn't run afoul of that deal because the deal only applied to prosecutions in the Southern District of Florida.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 28 July 2025
Prior to the agency’s reversal, the Bee reported that requiring state workers to return to offices in September may have run afoul of a 90-day pause to remote work policies outlined in the side letter between California and CPUC employees.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 26 July 2025
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Chris Deubert, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
Soliman, 51, arrived in the United States from Egypt in 2014, hoping to get asylum after running afoul of Egyptian authorities for his work as a freelance journalist.
—Dan Horn, The Enquirer, 14 July 2025
The Justice Department says the prosecution against Maxwell didn't run afoul of that deal because the deal only applied to prosecutions in the Southern District of Florida.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 28 July 2025
Prior to the agency’s reversal, the Bee reported that requiring state workers to return to offices in September may have run afoul of a 90-day pause to remote work policies outlined in the side letter between California and CPUC employees.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 26 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for afoul of
Cite this Entry
“Afoul of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/afoul%20of. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
afoul of
preposition1
: 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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