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Is there a valid word for the act of enabling?

I want to say "enablement". It is listed in the dictionary, but is it in common use? I've never heard it before. Is there a more apt word?

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    Enabling is what you do when you enable something, so enabling is the act. What do you mean by the act of enabling?
    – Matt E. Эллен
    Commented Sep 27, 2011 at 14:37
  • @Matt I've changed the title now. I hope that clarifies my question. Having said that, your answer may actually be correct.
    – Urbycoz
    Commented Sep 28, 2011 at 7:28
  • Your parsing of the dictionary entry is erroneous. Enablement is not specific to electronics.
    – Matt E. Эллен
    Commented Sep 28, 2011 at 8:16
  • @Matt I see what you mean. I've changed the question to reflect this. Re-open please!
    – Urbycoz
    Commented Sep 28, 2011 at 9:09
  • Now your question is reopened.
    – Mehper C. Palavuzlar
    Commented Sep 29, 2011 at 8:18

4 Answers 4

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"Enablement" is the noun form of the verb enable. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 Edition defines it as follows:

The act of enabling, or the state of being enabled; ability.

Other dictionaries defining this term are:

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  • I see. You're right. I've altered my question to reflect this.
    – Urbycoz
    Commented Sep 29, 2011 at 7:55
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‘Enablement’, in the sense of ‘the action or means of enabling’ is well attested in the OED from 1495 onwards.

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    Do you have a reference for that?
    – Urbycoz
    Commented Sep 28, 2011 at 7:25
  • @Urbycoz: "in the OED" is his reference, "OED" is the Oxford English Dictionary. (see here for more abbreviations)
    – Mr. Shiny and New 安宇
    Commented Sep 28, 2011 at 12:04
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    That's not what I meant. It's not a reference that can be easily checked. Barrie, is there a link you can give to back up your claim?
    – Urbycoz
    Commented Sep 29, 2011 at 8:36
  • @Urbycoz: Sorry, I’ve only just noticed that I hadn’t replied. The 1495 citation is from an Act of Parliament and reads: ‘This acte of enhablement and restitucion of Thomas Erle of Surrey.’
    – Barrie England
    Commented Nov 11, 2011 at 13:18
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Empowering may be suitable in certain contexts.

He believed in empowering (enabling) his followers.

Here is the Google dictionary result (second one on the list may be of interest to you):

empowering is a form of: em·pow·er

verb /emˈpou(-ə)r/  empowered, past participle; empowered, past tense; empowering, present participle; empowers, 3rd person singular present

Give (someone) the authority or power to do something - nobody was empowered to sign checks on her behalf

Enable (someone) to do (something) - cryptography will empower individuals to control their information

Make (someone) stronger and more confident, esp. in controlling their life and claiming their rights - movements to empower the poor

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  • Also, in the negative sense, allowing someone like an alcoholic to continue their destructive behavior. see also
    – JeffSahol
    Commented Sep 27, 2011 at 15:41
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Facilitation, perhaps?

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    Hello and welcome to EL&U, Ratz. Adding a dictionary link or a conjecture about why your suggestion is suitable (for a single-word-request) will usually suffice if you need more text to meet the minimum answer length, and it helps to make your answer more useful.
    – aedia λ
    Commented Sep 27, 2011 at 15:49

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