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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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Other Word Forms

  • sanctionable adjective
  • sanctionative adjective
  • sanctioner noun
  • sanctionless adjective
  • nonsanction noun
  • resanction verb (used with object)
  • supersanction verb (used with object)
  • unsanctionable adjective
  • unsanctioning adjective
  • ˈԳپDzԱ noun
  • ˈԳپDzԱ adjective
  • ˈԳپDzԲ adjective
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Word 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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Word 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.

Second, Ukraine's western allies also want a tough new package of economic sanctions.

From

The Public Utilities Commission sanctioned these projects with each of the eight utility companies in the state, and the result was a big surprise.

From

In 2015, Iran agreed a deal with six world powers under which it accepted restrictions on its nuclear activities and allowed rigorous monitoring by the IAEA's inspectors in return for relief from crippling sanctions.

From

And the U.S. has the capability to hit Iran even harder than Israel, both militarily and through the extension of sanctions that have already been very punishing to the Iranian economy.

From

By contrast, North Korea has defied all international sanctions to build up a formidable arsenal of nuclear warheads and intercontinental ballistic missiles, enough to make any potential attacker think twice.

From

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When To Use

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.

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