Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense sanctions, present participle sanctioning, past tense, past participle sanctioned
1. verb
If someone in authority sanctions an action or practice, they officially approve of it and allow it to be done.
He may now be ready to sanction the use of force. [VERB noun]
He seemed to be preparing to sanction an increase in public borrowing. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: permit, back, support, allow More Synonyms of sanction
Sanction is also a noun.
The king could not enact laws without the sanction of Parliament. [+ of]
2. plural noun
Sanctions are measures taken by countries to restrict trade and official contact with a country that has broken international law.
The continued abuse of human rights has now led the United States to impose sanctionsagainst the regime. [+ against/on]
He expressed his opposition to the lifting of sanctions.
Synonyms: ban, restriction, boycott, embargo More Synonyms of sanction
3. countable noun
A sanction is a severe course of action which is intended to make people obey instructions, customs, or laws.
As an ultimate sanction, they can sell their shares.
4. verb
If a country or an authority sanctions another country or a person for doing something, it declares that the country or person is guilty of doing it and imposes sanctions on them.
...their failure to sanction the country for butchering whales in violation of internationalconservation treaties. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: punish, discipline, penalize, chastise More Synonyms of sanction
More Synonyms of sanction
sanction in British English
(ˈsæŋkʃən)
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
verb(transitive)
6.
to give authority to; permit
7.
to make authorized; confirm
8.
to impose a sanction or penalty on
Derived forms
sanctionable (ˈsanctionable)
adjective
sanctioner (ˈsanctioner)
noun
sanctionless (ˈsanctionless)
adjective
Word origin
C16: from Latin sanctiō the establishment of an inviolable decree, from sancīre to decree
sanction in American English
(ˈsæŋkʃən)
noun
1.
the act of a recognized authority confirming or ratifying an action; authorized approval or permission
2.
support; encouragement; approval
3.
something that gives binding force to a law, or secures obedience to it, as the penalty for breaking it, or a reward for carrying it out
4.
something, as a moral principle or influence, that makes a rule of conduct, a law, etc. binding
5.
a.
a coercive measure, as a blockade of shipping, usually taken by several nations together, for forcing a nation considered to have violated international law to end the violation
b.
a coercive measure, as a boycott, taken by a group to enforce demands
often used in pl.
6. Obsolete
a formal decree; law
verb transitive
7.
to give sanction to
; specif.,
a.
to ratify or confirm
b.
to authorize or permit; countenance
SIMILAR WORDS: apˈprove
Derived forms
sanctionable (ˈsanctionable)
adjective
Word origin
< Fr or L: Fr < L sanctio < sanctus: see saint
Examples of 'sanction' in a sentence
sanction
The common law should sanction injustice no longer.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Failure to invoke sanctions may lead to a loss of management control and unproductive employee behavior.
A Conceptual View of Human Resource Management: Strategic Objectives, Environments,Functions
We make the minimum sanction four years.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The sticks include sanctioning unemployed people who do not look for work.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Points sanctions are one of the options.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Three agents have also been sanctioned for their roles in the case.
The Sun (2015)
Iranians stock up on goods that economic sanctions mean they cannot buy at home.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
S&P warned that further sanctions could provoke another downgrade.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
They will now decide what sanctions she should face.
The Sun (2011)
Peers would then vote on whether to approve this sanction.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
This lack of final sanction was very unsettling for us.
Stewart, Bob (Lt-Col) Broken Lives (1993)
This would not have happened without official sanction.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He saw people sitting in chairs that the law did not sanction.
Charles Glass The Tribes Triumphant (2006)
High oil prices have disguised this in the past but with international sanctions beginning to hit new rifts have been exposed.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The rhetoric is getting stronger, the sanctions tougher and military planning more detailed.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The only country able to impose tough sanctions quickly is America.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Following the outcome, personnel can request a review of the action and the sanction awarded against them.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Indeed, it is the only country to sanction surrogacy as a solution to infertility and make it affordable to the middle class.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
In other languages
sanction
British English: sanction VERB
If someone in authority sanctions an action or practice, they officially approve of it and allow it to be done.
He may now be ready to sanction the use of force.
American English: sanction
Brazilian Portuguese: sancionar
Chinese: 批准
European Spanish: sancionar
French: cautionner
German: sanktionieren
Italian: sancire
Japanese: 認可する
Korean: 승인하다
European Portuguese: sancionar
Latin American Spanish: sancionar
Chinese translation of 'sanction'
sanction
(ˈsæŋkʃən)
n
(c) (= punishment) 制裁 (zhìcái)
(u) (= approval) 批准 (pīzhǔn)
vt
(= give approval to) 批准 (pīzhǔn)
Derived Forms
sanctionsn pl (Pol) 国(國)际(際)制裁 (guójì zhìcái) : sanctions against对(對) ... 的制裁 (duì ... de zhìcái) , to impose sanctions (on or against)(对(對) ... )实(實)施制裁 ((duì ... ) shíshī zhìcái)
1 (verb)
Definition
to officially approve of or allow
He may seem ready to sanction the use of force.
Synonyms
permit
I was permitted to bring my camera into the concert.
Our constitution does not permit the sending of troops.
back
He is backed by the civic movement.
support
He supported the hardworking people.
allow
Talking amongst yourselves is not allowed.
approve
MPs approved the bill by a majority of 97.
entitle
Your contract entitles you to a full refund.
endorse
I can endorse this statement wholeheartedly.
authorize
We are willing to authorize a police raid.
countenance
The planners will not countenance any changes to the exterior of the barn.
vouch for
lend your name to
Opposites
refuse,
ban
,
veto
,
forbid
, reject,
boycott
,
disallow
2 (verb)
We are currently examining the different means at our disposal to sanction them.
Synonyms
punish
George has never had to punish the children.
discipline
He was disciplined by his company, but not dismissed.
penalize
Players who break the rules will be penalized.
chastise
bring to book
slap someone's wrist
throw the book at
rap someone's knuckles
3 (verb)
Definition
to confirm or ratify
Synonyms
confirm
Mrs Suarez is due to be confirmed as President on Friday.
warrant
The allegations are serious enough to warrant an investigation.
ratify
They have yet to ratify the treaty.
1 (noun)
Definition
coercive measures, such as boycotts and trade embargoes, taken by one or more states against another guilty of violating international law
He expressed his opposition to lifting the sanctions.
Synonyms
ban
The General also lifted a ban on political parties.
restriction
boycott
embargo
The UN has imposed an arms embargo against the country.
exclusion
They demand the exclusion of persistent cheats.
penalty
deterrent
prohibition
coercive measures
Opposites
authority
,
licence
,
approval
,
permission
,
authorization
,
dispensation
,
approbation
2 (noun)
Definition
support or approval
The king could not enact laws without the sanction of parliament.
Synonyms
permission
They cannot leave the country without permission.
Women and children have been given permission to leave.
backing
He said the president had the full backing of his government.
support
authority
approval
allowance
confirmation
She glanced over at James for confirmation of what she'd said.
endorsement
This is a powerful endorsement of his style of governing.
countenance
Those who remained could hope for no countenance or advancement.
ratification
The accord is subject to ratification by the five parliaments.
authorization
approbation
The result has not met with universal approbation.
O.K. or okay (informal)
stamp or seal of approval
Opposites
ban
,
veto
,
refusal
,
embargo
,
prohibition
,
disapproval
,
proscription
Additional synonyms
in the sense of allow
Definition
to permit someone to do something
Talking amongst yourselves is not allowed.
Synonyms
permit,
approve,
enable,
sanction,
endure,
license,
brook,
endorse,
warrant,
tolerate,
put up with (informal),
authorize,
stand,
suffer,
bear
in the sense of approbation
Definition
approval
The result has not met with universal approbation.
Synonyms
approval,
support,
favour,
praise,
sanction,
recognition,
acceptance,
acclaim,
encouragement,
applause,
endorsement,
ratification,
assent,
congratulation,
commendation,
laudation
in the sense of approve
Definition
to authorize or agree to
MPs approved the bill by a majority of 97.
Synonyms
agree to,
second,
allow,
pass,
accept,
confirm,
recommend,
permit,
sanction,
advocate,
bless,
endorse,
uphold,
mandate,
authorize,
ratify,
go along with,
subscribe to,
consent to,
buy into (informal),
validate,
countenance,
rubber stamp,
accede to,
give the go-ahead to (informal),
give the green light to,
assent to,
concur in,
greenlight,
O.K. or okay (informal)
Synonyms of 'sanction'
sanction
Explore 'sanction' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of authorize
Definition
to give official permission for
We are willing to authorize a police raid.
Synonyms
permit,
allow,
suffer,
grant,
confirm,
agree to,
approve,
sanction,
endure,
license,
endorse,
warrant,
tolerate,
ratify,
consent to,
countenance,
accredit,
vouch for,
give leave,
give the green light for,
give a blank cheque to,
give authority for
in the sense of back
He is backed by the civic movement.
Synonyms
support,
help,
second,
aid,
champion,
encourage,
favour,
defend,
promote,
sanction,
sustain,
assist,
advocate,
endorse,
side with,
stand up for,
espouse,
stand behind,
countenance,
abet,
stick up for (informal),
take up the cudgels for
in the sense of backing
Definition
support
He said the president had the full backing of his government.
Synonyms
support,
seconding,
championing,
promotion,
sanction,
approval,
blessing,
encouragement,
endorsement,
patronage,
accompaniment,
advocacy,
moral support,
espousal
in the sense of chastise
Definition
to punish by beating
Synonyms
beat (old-fashioned),
whip,
punish,
lash,
lick (informal),
flog,
scourge
in the sense of confirmation
Definition
the act of confirming
She glanced over at James for confirmation of what she'd said.
Synonyms
affirmation,
approval,
acceptance,
endorsement,
ratification,
assent,
agreement
in the sense of countenance
Definition
to support or tolerate
The planners will not countenance any changes to the exterior of the barn.
Synonyms
tolerate,
sanction,
endorse,
condone,
support,
encourage,
approve,
endure,
brook,
stand for (informal),
hack (slang),
put up with (informal),
back,
help,
aid,
champion,
commend,
abet
in the sense of countenance
Those who remained could hope for no countenance or advancement.
Synonyms
support,
assistance,
backing,
aid,
favour,
sanction,
approval,
endorsement
in the sense of discipline
Definition
to punish
He was disciplined by his company, but not dismissed.
Synonyms
punish,
correct,
reprimand,
castigate,
chastise,
chasten,
penalize,
bring to book,
reprove
in the sense of embargo
Definition
an order by a government or international body prohibiting trade with a country
The UN has imposed an arms embargo against the country.
Synonyms
ban,
bar,
block,
barrier,
restriction,
boycott,
restraint,
check,
prohibition,
moratorium,
stoppage,
impediment,
blockage,
hindrance,
interdiction,
interdict,
proscription,
rahui (New Zealand)
in the sense of endorse
Definition
to give approval or support to
I can endorse this statement wholeheartedly.
Synonyms
approve,
back,
support,
champion,
favour,
promote,
recommend,
sanction,
sustain,
advocate,
warrant,
prescribe,
uphold,
authorize,
ratify,
affirm,
approve of,
subscribe to,
espouse,
vouch for,
throw your weight behind
Additional synonyms
in the sense of endorsement
This is a powerful endorsement of his style of governing.
Synonyms
approval,
backing,
support,
championing,
favour,
promotion,
sanction,
recommendation,
acceptance,
agreement,
warrant,
confirmation,
upholding,
subscription,
fiat,
advocacy,
affirmation,
ratification,
authorization,
seal of approval,
approbation,
espousal,
O.K. or okay (informal)
in the sense of entitle
Definition
to give (someone) the right to do or have something
Your contract entitles you to a full refund.
Synonyms
give the right to,
allow,
enable,
permit,
sanction,
license,
qualify for,
warrant,
authorize,
empower,
enfranchise,
make eligible
in the sense of exclusion
They demand the exclusion of persistent cheats.
Synonyms
ban,
bar,
veto,
refusal,
boycott,
embargo,
prohibition,
disqualification,
interdict,
proscription,
debarment,
preclusion,
forbiddance,
nonadmission
in the sense of penalize
Definition
to impose a penalty on (someone) for breaking a law or rule
Players who break the rules will be penalized.
Synonyms
punish,
discipline,
correct,
handicap,
award a penalty against,
impose a penalty on
in the sense of ratification
The accord is subject to ratification by the five parliaments.
Synonyms
approval,
sanction,
acceptance,
confirmation,
endorsement,
authorization
in the sense of ratify
Definition
to give formal approval to
They have yet to ratify the treaty.
Synonyms
approve,
sign,
establish,
confirm,
bind,
sanction,
endorse,
uphold,
authorize,
affirm,
certify,
consent to,
validate,
bear out,
corroborate,
authenticate
in the sense of support
Definition
to give practical or emotional help to (someone)
He supported the hardworking people.
Synonyms
help,
back,
champion,
second,
aid,
forward,
encourage,
defend,
promote,
take (someone's) part,
strengthen,
assist,
advocate,
uphold,
side with,
go along with,
stand up for,
espouse,
stand behind,
hold (someone's) hand,
stick up for (informal),
succour,
buoy up,
boost (someone's) morale,
take up the cudgels for,
be a source of strength to
in the sense of warrant
Definition
to make necessary
The allegations are serious enough to warrant an investigation.