embargo

[em-bahr-goh]

noun

plural

embargoes 

1. any restriction imposed upon commerce by edict, especially against a certain country as a penalty or to induce compliance with demands or legal obligations.

   The United Nations fact-finding mission recommended the imposition of an arms embargo and other targeted economic sanctions on the rogue state.

   The software may not be exported into any country with which the United States maintains a trade embargo prohibiting the shipment of goods.

2. an order of a government prohibiting the movement of merchant ships into or out of its ports.

3. an injunction from a government commerce agency to refuse freight for shipment, as in case of congestion or insufficient facilities.

4. a restraint or hindrance; prohibition.

   A one-year embargo on her published dissertation allowed only the title, abstract, and citation information to be released to the public.

   Synonyms: proscription, interdiction, restriction, ban

verb (used with object)

embargoed, embargoing 

1. to impose an embargo on.

embargo

/ ɛmˈbɑːɡəʊ /

noun

1. a government order prohibiting the departure or arrival of merchant ships in its ports

2. any legal stoppage of commerce

   an embargo on arms shipments

3. a restraint, hindrance, or prohibition

verb

1. to lay an embargo upon

2. to seize for use by the state

embargo

1. A governmental restriction on trade for political purposes. The objective is to put pressure on other governments by prohibiting exports to or imports from those countries.

Other Word Forms

• preembargo adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of embargo¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Spanish, derivative of embargar “to hinder, embarrass,” from unattested Vulgar Latin imbarricāre, equivalent to im- im- ¹ + unattested -barricāre ( barr(a) bar ¹ + -icāre causative suffix)

Word History and Origins

Origin of embargo¹

C16: from Spanish, from embargar, from Latin _im- + barra _bar ¹

Example Sentences

The directive reimposes a statutory ban on tourism and doubles down on a decades‑old economic embargo.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Together they would go on to publish essays in U.S. media outlets detailing what they had seen and to send letters to American leaders begging for an arms embargo.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Israel’s 2½-month embargo on aid into Gaza this spring had left the enclave desperately low on food, prompting international experts to declare a famine around Gaza City, where a million Palestinians were sheltering.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Various embargoes have been placed on the club for tax debts and late payments to players and staff.

Read more on BBC

Though the U.S. remains by far Israel’s largest supplier of weapons, a number of European governments have imposed complete or partial arms embargoes and prevented Israeli arms makers from participating in defense expos.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ban 
• restraint