sanction
Americannoun
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sanctions
plural
-
authoritative permission or approval, as for an action.
- Synonyms:
- authorization
- Antonyms:
- prohibition, interdiction
-
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.
verb (used with object)
-
sanctions,
present (3rd person singular)
-
sanctioned,
past participle, past
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sanctioning
present participle
noun
-
final permission; authorization
-
aid or encouragement
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something, such as an ethical principle, that imparts binding force to a rule, oath, etc
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the penalty laid down in a law for contravention of its provisions
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(often plural) a coercive measure, esp one taken by one or more states against another guilty of violating international law
verb
-
to give authority to; permit
-
to make authorized; confirm
Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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nonsanctionnoun
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sanctionernoun
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resanctionverb (used with object)
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supersanctionverb (used with object)
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sanctionableadjective
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sanctionativeadjective
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sanctionlessadjective
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unsanctionableadjective
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unsanctioningadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
sanctionsimple
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sanctionssimple
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have sanctionedperfect
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has sanctionedperfect
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am sanctioningprogressive
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are sanctioningprogressive
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is sanctioningprogressive
-
have been sanctioningperfect progressive
-
has been sanctioningperfect progressive
Past
-
sanctionedsimple
-
had sanctionedperfect
-
was sanctioningprogressive
-
were sanctioningprogressive
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had been sanctioningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of sanction
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; see -ion
Explanation
Sanction has two nearly opposite meanings: to sanction can be to approve of something, but it can also mean to punish, or speak harshly to. Likewise, a sanction can be a punishment or approval. Very confusing — the person who invented this word should be publicly sanctioned! See if you can guess the meaning of sanction in the following contexts. Before invading Iraq, the U.S. and its allies first imposed sanctions on the country, refusing to supply the country with much-needed trade items. Did you guess that sanction = "punishment"? You were right! But by trading with China at the same time, the U.S. quietly sanctioned that nation's known instances of human rights abuses. Did you guess that sanction = "approval"? You're right again!
Vocabulary lists containing sanction
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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.
See Examples For:
As the Third Circuit Court of Appeals noted in ruling for Sun Valley, “history does sanction non-Article III adjudication for certain immigration-related matters,” but “this case falls well outside the heartland of that tradition.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 8, 2026
McIlroy had been handed the sanction for improving his lie during the opening round and as a result finished day one on two under par, eight shots behind the leader, Italian Francesco Laporta.
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026
Rabjerg Madsen also noted that in the country one in three inspections resulted in a sanction, showing "that we have general problems when it comes to animal welfare."
From Barron's ● Oct. 28, 2026
A spokesperson for Zanjani also previously told the Journal that the financier “has neither required nor relied upon any cryptocurrency exchange for the purpose of money laundering or sanction evasion.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
In spite of his parents’ sanction he feels that he is overstepping them, correcting a mistake they’ve made.
From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri
In Israel, the sanctions might be termed a hachlata pziza, or a rash decision.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 9, 2026
He said the attack was "unprecedented in both its scale and its level of aggression", adding that the country would "implement sanctions at the European level against all those responsible for this attack".
From BBC ● Nov. 9, 2026
"We will implement sanctions at the European level against all those responsible," he added.
From Barron's ● Nov. 9, 2026
Either way, the planned U.K. sanctions could create uncertainty for investment entities registered in the Caymans.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 9, 2026
At issue were his violation of the sanctions, the fifteen years of back taxes he owed, and the taxes he potentially owed on the millions he’d just won.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
The 29-year-old American will now return in a professionally sanctioned eight-round cruiserweight bout with the fighters using 10oz gloves.
From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026
This is the latest hack to be linked to North Korea, which has been accused of relying on cyber-crime to help finance its sanctioned economy.
From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026
Mann, 83, was engaged in target practice at a sanctioned shooting range when the accident occurred.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 1, 2026
Polar’s project required convincing the Treasury Department to give it a license to buy the infrastructure from a sanctioned entity, Novatek’s Arctic LNG 2 business.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2026
Midwifery was not illegal in the state of Idaho, but it had not yet been sanctioned.
From "Educated" by Tara Westover
The sanctioning hearing, which will determine the level of punishment City must face, is yet to be scheduled.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
Given how late in the transfer window the talks are taking place between Liverpool and Manchester City, the Anfield side will now consider the situation before sanctioning any move.
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
The U.S. is sanctioning more than 60 entities, individuals and vessels that help Iran procure technology, earn oil revenue and run cyber operations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
Bessent said the U.S. was sanctioning more than 60 entities, individuals and vessels across the world.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
Indeed, Lord Liverpool seemed resolved to push the country to its utmost verge, by proposing and sanctioning every expensive outlay.
From Secret History of the Court of England, from the Accession of George the Third to the Death of George the Fourth, Volume I (of 2) Including, Among Other Important Matters, Full Particulars of the Mysterious Death of the Princess Charlotte by Lady Anne Hamilton
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