embargo

American  

[em-bahr-goh] / ɛmˈbɑr goʊ /

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

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verb (used with object)

embargoed, embargoing

1. to impose an embargo on.

embargo British  

/ 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

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verb

1. to lay an embargo upon

2. to seize for use by the state

embargo Cultural  

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.

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Other Word Forms

• preembargo adjective

Etymology

Origin of embargo

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)

Example Sentences

Among them might be the gradual lifting of the U.S. embargo, a crucial step if Cuba is to open up its economy.

From The Wall Street Journal

Despite imposition of the US trade embargo in 1962, Cuba had eight power plants built in the 1980s and 1990s.

From Barron's

Like the new minerals reserve, the petroleum stockpile dates to a foreign supply shock—the Arab oil embargo of the 1970s.

From The Wall Street Journal

Cuba, which has largely been under a US embargo since 1962, until recently received most of its oil from Venezuela.

From Barron's

They are tied to tariffs risks, as in the case with gold, silver and copper, and unpredictable seizures and embargoes, as is the case with oil and gas.

From Barron's

Related Words

• ban
• restraint