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View synonyms for

sanction

[ sangk-shuhn ]

noun

  1. authoritative permission or approval, as for an action.

    Synonyms:

    Antonyms: ,

  2. something that serves to support an action, condition, etc.
  3. something that gives binding force, as to an oath, rule of conduct, etc.
  4. Law.
    1. a provision of a law enacting a penalty for disobedience or a reward for obedience.
    2. the penalty or reward.
  5. International Law. action by one or more states toward another state calculated to force it to comply with legal obligations.


verb (used with object)

  1. to authorize, approve, or allow:

    an expression now sanctioned by educated usage.

    Synonyms:

    Antonyms:

  2. to ratify or confirm:

    to sanction a law.

  3. to impose a sanction on; penalize, especially by way of discipline.

sanction

/ ˈæŋʃə /

noun

  1. final permission; authorization
  2. aid or encouragement
  3. something, such as an ethical principle, that imparts binding force to a rule, oath, etc
  4. the penalty laid down in a law for contravention of its provisions
  5. often plural a coercive measure, esp one taken by one or more states against another guilty of violating international law
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to give authority to; permit
  2. to make authorized; confirm
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈԳپDzԱ, noun
  • ˈԳپDzԱ, adjective
  • ˈԳپDzԲ, adjective
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Other yvlog Forms

  • Գ·پDz·· adjective
  • Գ·پDz··پ adjective
  • Գ·پDz· noun
  • Գ·پDz· adjective
  • ԴDz·Գ·پDz noun
  • ·Գ·پDz verb (used with object)
  • ··Գ·پDz verb (used with object) noun
  • un·Գ·پDz·· adjective
  • ܲ·Գ·پDz·Բ adjective
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yvlog History and Origins

Origin of sanction1

First recorded in 1555–65; from Latin Գپō- (stem of Գپō ), equivalent to Գ(ܲ) (past participle of Գī “to prescribe by law”) + -ō- noun suffix; -ion
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yvlog History and Origins

Origin of sanction1

C16: from Latin Գپō the establishment of an inviolable decree, from Գī to decree
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

True, Washington says it's growing impatient with Russia and has threatened tougher sanctions on Moscow.

From

The US imposed large-scale sanctions on Russia after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

From

His attendance will be unusual as sanctioned leaders are typically barred from these events.

From

According to law 12, as explained on the Football Association's website, "a tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force or brutality must be sanctioned as serious foul play".

From

It is nine years since MPs voted to toughen up the laws on corruption, introducing the very sanctions - on immediately banning criminals from public office - that were used by the judges in this case.

From

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More About Sanction

What doessanction 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 ԳپDzcome from?

The first records of sanction come from the 1500s. It is derived from the Latin Գī, meaning “to decree” or “to prescribe by law.” Գī 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 issanction 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.

Try usingsanction!

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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