sanction
Americannoun
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sanctions
plural
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authoritative permission or approval, as for an action.
- Synonyms:
- authorization
- Antonyms:
- prohibition, interdiction
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something that serves to support an action, condition, etc.
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something that gives binding force, as to an oath, rule of conduct, etc.
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Law.
-
a provision of a law enacting a penalty for disobedience or a reward for obedience.
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the penalty or reward.
-
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International Law. action by one or more states toward another state calculated to force it to comply with legal obligations.
verb (used with object)
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sanctions,
present (3rd person singular)
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sanctioned,
past participle, past
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sanctioning
present participle
noun
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final permission; authorization
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aid or encouragement
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something, such as an ethical principle, that imparts binding force to a rule, oath, etc
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the penalty laid down in a law for contravention of its provisions
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(often plural) a coercive measure, esp one taken by one or more states against another guilty of violating international law
verb
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to give authority to; permit
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to make authorized; confirm
Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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nonsanctionnoun
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sanctionernoun
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resanctionverb (used with object)
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supersanctionverb (used with object)
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sanctionableadjective
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sanctionativeadjective
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sanctionlessadjective
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unsanctionableadjective
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unsanctioningadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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sanctionsimple
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sanctionssimple
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have sanctionedperfect
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has sanctionedperfect
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am sanctioningprogressive
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are sanctioningprogressive
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is sanctioningprogressive
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have been sanctioningperfect progressive
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has been sanctioningperfect progressive
Past
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sanctionedsimple
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had sanctionedperfect
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was sanctioningprogressive
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were sanctioningprogressive
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had been sanctioningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of sanction
First recorded in 1555–65; from Latin sānctiōn- (stem of sānctiō ), equivalent to sānct(us) (past participle of sancīre “to prescribe by law”) + -iōn- noun suffix; see -ion
Explanation
Sanction has two nearly opposite meanings: to sanction can be to approve of something, but it can also mean to punish, or speak harshly to. Likewise, a sanction can be a punishment or approval. Very confusing — the person who invented this word should be publicly sanctioned! See if you can guess the meaning of sanction in the following contexts. Before invading Iraq, the U.S. and its allies first imposed sanctions on the country, refusing to supply the country with much-needed trade items. Did you guess that sanction = "punishment"? You were right! But by trading with China at the same time, the U.S. quietly sanctioned that nation's known instances of human rights abuses. Did you guess that sanction = "approval"? You're right again!
Vocabulary lists containing sanction
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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Two-Faced Words: Contronyms
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The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 5
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Plus: Treasury to sanction ‘large bank’ on Monday for Iran dealings, and a cluster of Polymarket accounts won big on companies audited by KPMG.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026
As Europe moved to sanction Moscow, Germany placed under state trusteeship the local unit of Russian state-owned firm Rosneft, which holds a majority stake in the PCK Schwedt refinery.
From Barron's ● Sep. 4, 2026
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent after he was asked whether the U.S. would sanction Chinese banks that do business with Iran.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
Hatton, McKibbin and Meronk are able to compete as DP World Tour members after accepting a deal that allowed them to play both tours without sanction this year.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
“I swallow my own tears,” he said, “and give my sanction to the Allied proposal.”
From "Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two" by Joseph Bruchac
In response to questions, Damen shared a press release that said it “has always acted in accordance with the applicable sanctions packages and that full transparency has been exercised about its activities.”
From Salon ● Sep. 16, 2026
Asked about efforts to prevent Tehran's workarounds of US sanctions amid war with Iran in the Middle East, Bessent told lawmakers that Washington's warnings have been heard.
From Barron's ● Sep. 15, 2026
Justice Department said several companies used crypto exchange Binance to relay payments for black-market Iranian oil from Chinese buyers, as part of a scheme to finance Iran’s military in violation of sanctions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
First hit by US sanctions in 2019, Saab was arrested in Cape Verde in 2020 and extradited to the United States the following year.
From Barron's ● Sep. 15, 2026
Based on the changes he had made in South Africa, he asked me to mute the call for the continuation of international sanctions.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Last week, they revealed 685 fan accounts had been banned, with a further 464 either sanctioned or warned.
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026
It sanctioned 27 small Iranian airlines and suspended sanctions exemptions that allowed airlines to pay for overflights over Iran and for non-U.S. airlines to fly U.S.-origin or U.S.-controlled commercial planes into Iran.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
The committee rarely investigates senators and has not formally sanctioned a member in 19 years.
From Salon ● Sep. 5, 2026
The U.S. sanctioned more than 60 entities, individuals and vessels across the world that enable the regime to procure nuclear and missile technology, earn revenue from oil and carry out cyber operations, Bessent said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
Repairs, except what you could do for yourself, had to be sanctioned by remote committees which were liable to hold up even the mending of a window pane for two years.
From "1984" by George Orwell
On Tuesday, the U.S. intensified its pressure on the airline, sanctioning intermediaries that this summer helped it buy at least three secondhand Boeing B-777s that had been diverted through the United Arab Emirates and Oman.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
Given how late in the transfer window the talks are taking place between Liverpool and Manchester City, the Anfield side will now consider the situation before sanctioning any move.
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
Bessent said the U.S. was sanctioning more than 60 entities, individuals and vessels across the world that enable the regime to procure nuclear and missile technology, collect oil revenue and carry out cyber operations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
The UCI are a sanctioning authority of the race and take a fee from event organisers.
From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026
It must be construed, if possible, as sanctioning nothing contrary to natural right.
From The Unconstitutionality of Slavery by Lysander Spooner
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
