sanction

[sangk-shuhn]

noun

1. authoritative permission or approval, as for an action.

   Synonyms: authorization
   Antonyms: prohibition, interdiction

2. something that serves to support an action, condition, etc.

3. something that gives binding force, as to an oath, rule of conduct, etc.

4. Law.

   1. a provision of a law enacting a penalty for disobedience or a reward for obedience.

   2. the penalty or reward.

5. International Law.,  action by one or more states toward another state calculated to force it to comply with legal obligations.

verb (used with object)

1. to authorize, approve, or allow.

   an expression now sanctioned by educated usage.

   Synonyms: permit
   Antonyms: deny

2. to ratify or confirm.

   to sanction a law.

3. to impose a sanction on; penalize, especially by way of discipline.

sanction

/ ˈsæŋkʃən /

noun

1. final permission; authorization

2. aid or encouragement

3. something, such as an ethical principle, that imparts binding force to a rule, oath, etc

4. the penalty laid down in a law for contravention of its provisions

5. (often plural) a coercive measure, esp one taken by one or more states against another guilty of violating international law

verb

1. to give authority to; permit

2. to make authorized; confirm

Other Word Forms

• sanctioner noun
• sanctionless adjective
• sanctionable adjective
• sanctionative adjective
• nonsanction noun
• resanction verb (used with object)
• supersanction verb (used with object)
• unsanctionable adjective
• unsanctioning adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sanction¹

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; -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of sanction¹

C16: from Latin sanctiō the establishment of an inviolable decree, from sancīre to decree

Example Sentences

With a sanctioned strength of 160 that experts say has never been completely filled, the court is severely understaffed.

From BBC

Those who refuse to take up the offer without a reasonable excuse will face sanctions such as losing their benefits.

From BBC

The UK, France and Germany have called on Iran not to escalate tensions and to pursue negotiations after UN sanctions were reinstated on Saturday.

From BBC

On Iran, Lavrov accused Western powers of sabotaging diplomacy after a last-minute bid led by Russia and China to delay sanctions being reimposed failed on Friday.

From BBC

County prosecutors had charged that Landa-Rodriguez, while incarcerated in a federal penitentiary for illegally reentering the country, sanctioned the killing of a rival’s underling.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• accredit 
• allow 
• approve 
• certify 
• empower 
• endorse 
• permit 
• ratify 
• warrant 

When To Use

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.