sanctioned
Americanadjective
-
authorized, approved, or allowed.
Locke's main argument was that unlimited accumulation of wealth was moral, religiously sanctioned, and logical.
-
officially or formally ratified or confirmed.
The event is run exclusively in association with the National Franchise Association, so participating franchisees have all met the NFA-sanctioned code of ethics.
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penalized, especially by way of discipline or to force compliance with legal obligations.
The embargo had no real impact—but how often have we ever seen a sanctioned political leader say, “OK, I guess I’ll give in now”?
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of sanctioned
Explanation
If something’s sanctioned it’s officially approved. Now that your mom has finally come around, watching football with your friends on Sunday is a sanctioned ritual. When something’s sanctioned, it’s been approved by an authority, like your mom or your school, or it follows established rules or traditions. Eating ham on Easter might be a sanctioned tradition in your family. The word can also be used to say that something has been approved or authorized in a legal sense. You may read about a sanctioned treaty that has been signed by all members of the United Nations.
Vocabulary lists containing sanctioned
The Witch of Blackbird Pond
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"The Hunger Games" Vocabulary from Chapter 3
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167 Vocabulary words from the Supreme Court's DOMA Decision
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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.
But on Tuesday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said foreign companies could be sanctioned for stealing US technology, without offering more details.
From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026
His published work centres on North Korea, a close friend of China and long sanctioned for its nuclear weapons programme and underground tests.
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026
The French foreign ministry added that among the sanctioned targets was "a group that claimed destabilising actions against the Paris 2024 Olympics."
From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026
PARIS—European authorities sanctioned Russian intelligence units and hackers on Monday, accusing them of a 15-year campaign targeting governments and critical infrastructure across the continent.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
Mr. Jones wore a few accessories not sanctioned by the USPS.
From "The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street" by Karina Yan Glaser
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.
