sanction

American  

[sangk-shuhn] / ˈsæŋk ʃən /

noun

• sanctions
  plural

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.

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verb (used with object)

• sanctions,
  present (3rd person singular)
• sanctioned,
  past participle,  past
• sanctioning
  present participle

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 British  

/ 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

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verb

1. to give authority to; permit

2. 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

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• sanctions
  plural

Participles

• sanctioning
  present
• sanctioned
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• sanction
  simple
• sanctions
  simple
• have sanctioned
  perfect
• has sanctioned
  perfect
• am sanctioning
  progressive
• are sanctioning
  progressive
• is sanctioning
  progressive
• have been sanctioning
  perfect progressive
• has been sanctioning
  perfect progressive

Past

• sanctioned
  simple
• had sanctioned
  perfect
• was sanctioning
  progressive
• were sanctioning
  progressive
• had been sanctioning
  perfect progressive

Future

• will sanction
  simple
• will have sanctioned
  perfect
• will be sanctioning
  progressive
• will have been sanctioning
  perfect progressive

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!

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sanction sanctions sanctioned sanctioning

You cannot decapitate a movement with no head, and you cannot sanction an organization that does not exist.

From Salon ● Jul. 23, 2026

The government of the Falkland Islands said it was "disappointed" about the banner and that they hope Fifa will "sanction all behaviour of this nature in line with its own rules".

From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026

They were immediately excommunicated, but the sanction was lifted in 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI.

From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026

In announcing the decision, the ISU council described the ban as a “protective measure” and emphasized that “those measures were expressly stated not to be a sanction, disciplinary measure or ineligibility decision.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026

While under formal control, virtually every aspect of one’s life is regulated and monitored by the system, and any form of resistance or disobedience is subject to swift sanction.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

The U.S. decided to put economic pressure on Iran through financial sanctions and a blockade of Iranian ports in an attempt to force Iran to reach a deal with the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

It can also delay payments and investment and use its long established sanctions evasion networks to keep trade flowing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

He also demanded the lifting of a parallel US naval blockade of Iran, the end of sanctions, the release of frozen assets and compensation for wartime damage, according to remarks reported by Tasnim news agency.

From Barron's ● Aug. 8, 2026

"But also one that works for us and doesn't lead us to have to sell players we don't want to sell and lead to Uefa sanctions."

From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026

If sanctions are imposed, the goat will fall.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez

U.K. and European Union have all sanctioned A7.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 8, 2026

You might very well pay more than your married neighbor — a penalty sanctioned by the state and judiciary.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026

As I approached the site on my tour bus—the only sanctioned way to visit—hundreds of locked red doors protecting the grottoes came into view, speckled across a sun-bleached cliff face more than a mile long.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

The court heard how the Foxtrot Network had been sanctioned by both the UK and the US for its close links to the Iranian government.

From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026

An hour later, the University Interscholastic League, which sanctioned high school sports in the state, kicked Carter out of the playoffs and replaced it with Plano East.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger

He also addressed the recent sanctioning by the US of his predecessor, Joseph Kabila, for allegedly supporting rebel groups.

From BBC ● May 7, 2026

The department also targeted an illicit oil-smuggling network run by Iran’s elite, sanctioning more than two dozen people, companies and vessels.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026

But he added that "there are still significant loopholes and areas that have been unaddressed by sanctioning countries", allowing volumes to remain high.

From Barron's ● Feb. 24, 2026

The law said the president in response to a national emergency may deal with an “unusual and extraordinary threat” by freezing assets or sanctioning a foreign country or otherwise regulating trade.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 20, 2026

In 1840 an agreement was made between the officers in command of the British and American squadrons respectively, sanctioning a reciprocal right of search on the coast of Africa.

From The Works of Daniel Webster, Volume 1 by Daniel Webster

Related Words

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