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sanction
[ sangk-shuhn ]
noun
- authoritative permission or approval, as for an action.
Synonyms: authorization
Antonyms: prohibition, interdiction
- something that serves to support an action, condition, etc.
- something that gives binding force, as to an oath, rule of conduct, etc.
- Law.
- a provision of a law enacting a penalty for disobedience or a reward for obedience.
- the penalty or reward.
- International Law. action by one or more states toward another state calculated to force it to comply with legal obligations.
sanction
/ ˈsæŋkʃən /
noun
- final permission; authorization
- aid or encouragement
- something, such as an ethical principle, that imparts binding force to a rule, oath, etc
- the penalty laid down in a law for contravention of its provisions
- often plural a coercive measure, esp one taken by one or more states against another guilty of violating international law
verb
- to give authority to; permit
- to make authorized; confirm
Derived Forms
- ˈsanctioner, noun
- ˈsanctionless, adjective
- ˈsanctionable, adjective
Other Words From
- sanc·tion·a·ble adjective
- sanc·tion·a·tive adjective
- sanc·tion·er noun
- sanc·tion·less adjective
- non·sanc·tion noun
- re·sanc·tion verb (used with object)
- su·per·sanc·tion verb (used with object) noun
- un·sanc·tion·a·ble adjective
- un·sanc·tion·ing adjective
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of sanction1
Example Sentences
This is the second time Narbonne’s football program has faced sanctions for ineligible players.
"If I cannot speak up for them in the way they want me to without being sanctioned for it, I cannot remain in the party."
In 2021 Johnson was sanctioned by the US for alleged involvement in so-called pay-for-play funding, where he would reportedly personally benefit from the distribution of government funding to various ministries.
He has been under EU sanctions since 2023 for overseeing disinformation campaigns to promote the Wagner Group in several African countries, and is also the subject of Ukrainian sanctions.
Critics fear that Trump will be steamrolled by the former Soviet intelligence officer on Ukraine, on sanctions aimed at curbing Russian aggression, and on the future of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
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Related Words
More About Sanction
What does sanction mean?
Sanction has two main senses that are almost opposites: it can refer to authorizing or approving something, or to penalizing or disciplining someone or something.
Sanction can be used as a verb (meaning to authorize or to penalize) or a noun (meaning approval or penalty). It is most commonly used in official contexts. As a noun referring to a penalty, it is especially applied to situations in which one country’s government imposes economic sanctions on another to try to force it to comply with laws or certain expectations.
Example: Economic sanctions are intended to force regimes to play by the rules, but they often end up hurting the average citizen.
Where does sanction come from?
The first records of sanction come from the 1500s. It is derived from the Latin sancīre, meaning “to decree” or “to prescribe by law.” Sancīre also means “to make holy” and is the root of words like sanctify and sanctuary.
Sanction originally referred to an official decree, but by the 1800s it had acquired its senses of both approval and punishment and had come to be used as both a verb and a noun. Today, sanction is commonly used in phrases like economic sanctions or international sanctions. A country might place sanctions (such as restrictions on trade and financial transactions) on another country as a penalty for violating international law or as a way of trying to force that country to adhere to certain laws or rules.
Sanction meaning “authorize” is also often used in the context of government actions, especially those officially approved by a top official, like the president. But it can be used for any official approval, such as by an organization that has sanctioned (certified) events to take place (these are often called sanctioned events).
Because it has meanings that are nearly the opposite of each other, sanction can be considered a contranym or a Janus word (a reference to the Roman god Janus, who is often shown with two heads facing opposite directions).
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to sanction?
- sanctionable (adjective)
- sanctioner (noun)
- sanctionative (adjective)
- sanctionless (adjective)
What are some synonyms for sanction?
What are some words that share a root or word element with sanction?
What are some words that often get used in discussing sanction?
How is sanction used in real life?
Sanction is perhaps most commonly used as a plural noun to refer to penalties levied by nations against other nations. It is also commonly used as a verb in the context of officially approving something.
The EU economic sanctions against #Russia have now been prolonged to 31 Jan 2018. #Ukraine #Crimea
— Rikard Jozwiak (@RikardJozwiak) June 28, 2017
U.S. sanctions Nicaragua police force over 'violent repression' https://t.co/oAnLRkcwjZ pic.twitter.com/CYKy27p5PJ
— Reuters (@Reuters) March 5, 2020
Kudos to the @wsl for taking a stand for equality and supporting their female athletes. As of 2019, male and female surfers will receive the same prize money at all World Surf League sanctioned events.#CatchThisWave
— Barry Tuck (@BarryTuck) September 6, 2018
Try using sanction!
Is sanction used correctly in the following sentence?
I’m the top person in charge, and I never sanctioned this event, so it is not official.
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