sanctioned

American  

[sangk-shuhnd] / ˈsæŋk ʃənd /

adjective

1. authorized, approved, or allowed.

   Locke's main argument was that unlimited accumulation of wealth was moral, religiously sanctioned, and logical.

2. officially or formally ratified or confirmed.

   The event is run exclusively in association with the National Franchise Association, so participating franchisees have all met the NFA-sanctioned code of ethics.

3. penalized, especially by way of discipline or to force compliance with legal obligations.

   The embargo had no real impact—but how often have we ever seen a sanctioned political leader say, “OK, I guess I’ll give in now”?

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of sanction.

Other Word Forms

• nonsanctioned
  adjective
• quasi-sanctioned
  adjective
• unsanctioned
  adjective
• well-sanctioned
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of sanctioned

sanction ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Explanation

If something’s sanctioned it’s officially approved. Now that your mom has finally come around, watching football with your friends on Sunday is a sanctioned ritual. When something’s sanctioned, it’s been approved by an authority, like your mom or your school, or it follows established rules or traditions. Eating ham on Easter might be a sanctioned tradition in your family. The word can also be used to say that something has been approved or authorized in a legal sense. You may read about a sanctioned treaty that has been signed by all members of the United Nations.

Example Sentences

America’s first officially sanctioned World’s Fair, the Centennial International Exhibition, arrived when the country was still defining its place among industrial nations.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 16, 2026

Although quite a few movies have taken place against the whirl of the Cannes Film Festival, only a handful have been shot within sanctioned festival spaces — often because of artistic, logistical and financial constraints.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026

He was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2018 for alleged involvement with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and for ties to Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militia in Lebanon.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026

The US Treasury Department separately sanctioned several mainland China and Hong Kong-based firms for aiding Iran's weapons supply.

From Barron's • May 11, 2026

Of course, I've never been on a train, as travel between the districts is forbidden except for officially sanctioned duties.

From "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins

Related Words

• accepted
• allowed
• approved
• licensed
• permitted