sanction
authoritative permission or approval, as for an action.
something that serves to support an action, condition, etc.
something that gives binding force, as to an oath, rule of conduct, etc.
Law.
a provision of a law enacting a penalty for disobedience or a reward for obedience.
the penalty or reward.
International Law. action by one or more states toward another state calculated to force it to comply with legal obligations.
to authorize, approve, or allow: an expression now sanctioned by educated usage.
to ratify or confirm: to sanction a law.
to impose a sanction on; penalize, especially by way of discipline.
Origin of sanction
1Other words for sanction
Opposites for sanction
Other words from sanction
- sanc·tion·a·ble, adjective
- sanc·tion·a·tive, adjective
- sanc·tion·er, noun
- sanc·tion·less, adjective
- non·sanc·tion, noun
- re·sanc·tion, verb (used with object)
- su·per·sanc·tion, verb (used with object), noun
- un·sanc·tion·a·ble, adjective
- un·sanc·tion·ing, adjective
Words Nearby sanction
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use sanction in a sentence
At a time the EU wants to impose sanctions on Belarus over the crackdown on peaceful protesters there, Greece and Cyprus are quietly holding that plan to ransom — insisting they’ll only sign on if Turkey too is placed under sanctions.
Butterfly Effect: The Next U.S.-Russia Conflict Theater Could be the Mediterranean | Charu Kasturi | September 17, 2020 | OzyChina telecom manufacturer Huawei Technologies is facing new sanctions in the United States.
‘Work to your strength’: Huawei’s CTO weighs in on U.S. efforts to build a Huawei alternative | Veta Chan | August 20, 2020 | FortuneThis could stimulate a movement for deeper sanctions against Putin.
The EU imposed sanctions after similar repressive actions following the 2010 election, and some member states are already raising the possibility of applying them again.
Belarus Election: Contested Result Sparks Massive Unrest As Europe’s ‘Last Dictator’ Claims Victory | LGBTQ-Editor | August 12, 2020 | No Straight NewsDisciplinary sanctions are few and reserved for the most egregious cases.
Police Officers Accused Of Brutal Violence Often Have A History Of Complaints By Citizens | LGBTQ-Editor | June 1, 2020 | No Straight News
Cameron has already begun securing support in Parliament for a vote that would sanction attacks in the coming days.
ISIS Murder of British Hostage Likely to Draw UK Deeper Into New War | Nico Hines | September 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST“Russia is bigger than all of our previous sanction targets put together,” he said.
NATO Plans New Military Outposts to Stop Putin—Just Don't Call Them Bases | Eli Lake | September 3, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAs a result of these findings, Brown University is imposing the following sanction: Suspension until Fall 2014.
If the U.S. moves to sanction Putin and his pals next week, Moscow will definitely strike back.
White House Braces for Russian Retaliation Over Ukraine | Josh Rogin | March 14, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWednesday afternoon, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will mark up legislation to give aid to Ukraine and sanction Russia.
Indeed, this symbol is no less appropriate than the one just considered, and has equally the sanction of Scripture.
The Catacombs of Rome | William Henry WithrowHe was desired by the speaker to withdraw, as no affirmation could be made without the sanction of the house.
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.III. | E. Farr and E. H. NolanThey became engaged, and Gibbon implored her to marry him without waiting for the sanction of his father.
Private Letters of Edward Gibbon (1753-1794) Volume 1 (of 2) | Edward GibbonPlay-writers heralded it on the stage, bestowing upon it the passport of literary sanction.
A Cursory History of Swearing | Julian SharmanIn the following year it gave its sanction to a similar proposal by the Bradford Board of Guardians.
English Poor Law Policy | Sidney Webb
British Dictionary definitions for sanction
/ (ˈsæŋkʃən) /
final permission; authorization
aid or encouragement
something, such as an ethical principle, that imparts binding force to a rule, oath, etc
the penalty laid down in a law for contravention of its provisions
(often plural) a coercive measure, esp one taken by one or more states against another guilty of violating international law
to give authority to; permit
to make authorized; confirm
Origin of sanction
1Derived forms of sanction
- sanctionable, adjective
- sanctioner, noun
- sanctionless, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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