Showing results for "sanctioned"

• past tense form of sanction.
• past participle of sanction.

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

After recounting the various permutations of a central bank throughout American history, he concluded that the Fed’s independence constitutes a “special arrangement sanctioned by history.”

From Slate • Jun. 29, 2026

Valdez’s post presented a unique moment of decision for the reclusive artist: to reply risked abandoning a mystique he’d long cultivated; but ultimately the lure of a sanctioned Pinky reboot proved too tempting to refuse.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 29, 2026

Last year, Gasabo Gold Refinery was sanctioned by the European Union for "exploiting the armed conflict" in DR Congo.

From BBC • Jun. 26, 2026

Treasury Department last year sanctioned a network accused of processing more than $100 million worth of crypto stemming from Iranian oil sales, including Derakhshan.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 25, 2026

Such an opportunity, sanctioned by authority, had never been known before.

From "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" by Elizabeth George Speare

Related Words

• accepted
• allowed
• approved
• licensed
• permitted