sanction

[ sangk-shuhn ]

/ ˈsæŋk ʃən /

See synonyms for: sanction / sanctioned / sanctioning / sanctions on Thesaurus.com

noun

authoritative permission or approval, as for an action.

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)

to authorize, approve, or allow: an expression now sanctioned by educated usage.

to ratify or confirm: to sanction a law.

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

SYNONYMS FOR sanction

6 permit.

See synonyms for sanction on Thesaurus.com

ANTONYMS FOR sanction

1 disapproval.

6 disapprove.

See antonyms for sanction on Thesaurus.com

QUIZZES

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Origin of sanction

1555–65; <Latin sānctiōn- (stem of sānctiō), equivalent to sānct(us) (past participle of sancīre to prescribe by law) + -iōn--ion

OTHER WORDS FROM sanction

sanc·tion·a·ble, adjectivesanc·tion·a·tive, adjectivesanc·tion·er, nounsanc·tion·less, adjective

non·sanc·tion, nounnon·sanc·tioned, adjectivequasi-sanctioned, adjectivere·sanc·tion, verb (used with object)su·per·sanc·tion, verb (used with object), nounun·sanc·tion·a·ble, adjectiveun·sanc·tioned, adjectiveun·sanc·tion·ing, adjectivewell-sanctioned, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for sanction

In August, the Tech Transparency Project uncovered shipping records showing Apple was importing cotton T-shirts from a company in Xinjiang that Congress imposed sanctions on for its alleged use of forced labor.
Apple is lobbying against a bill aimed at stopping forced labor in China|Reed Albergotti|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
Federal records show child labor sanctions against just one Illinois factory over the past five years, and none involving temp agencies.
Inside the Lives of Immigrant Teens Working Dangerous Night Shifts in Suburban Factories|by Melissa Sanchez|November 19, 2020|ProPublica
When health care workers in Nevada and Vermont reported false positives, HHS defended the tests and threatened Nevada with unspecified sanctions until state officials agreed to continue using them in nursing homes.
Rapid Testing Is Less Accurate Than the Government Wants to Admit|by Lisa Song|November 16, 2020|ProPublica
In terms of sanctions for noncompliance, the bill would allow fines of up to 5% of global revenues and jail terms of up to five years.
The U.K. will follow the U.S. and Europe in getting tougher on ‘hostile’ foreign investment|David Meyer|November 11, 2020|Fortune

Jenkins now finds himself in the position of trying to enforce “zero tolerance” and “severe sanctions” for similar superspreader events amid an undefeated football season.
Notre Dame’s president lacked self-control. Its student body is merely following his example.|Sally Jenkins|November 10, 2020|Washington Post
The Moscow protest was not sanctioned, which meant every participant risked arrest.
Russia’s Rebel In Chief Escapes House Arrest|Anna Nemtsova|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Before Cuba was shunned and sanctioned, it was a handy place for the randy.
Will Hyman Roth Return to Havana With Normalized Relations?|John L. Smith|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In FDA sanctioned studies using MDMA-assisted therapy to treat veterans with PTSD, the success rate has been astounding.
Psychedelics Are Ready for a Comeback|Abby Haglage|September 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But in federal court, if you pursue an “objectively baseless” claim, you can be sanctioned by the court (PDF) under Rule 11.
Obama Should Counter John Boehner’s Lawsuit—and Here’s How He Can Do It|Dean Obeidallah|July 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Cardin said Tuesday he was not sure yet if Bastrykin was sanctioned secretly by the administration.
Obama Targets Russian Mob Boss|Josh Rogin|May 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Cromwell must have sanctioned this, if he did not encourage it.
An Illustrated History of Ireland from AD 400 to 1800|Mary Frances Cusack
Judge for yourselves whether he sanctioned such a system of oppression and crime.
The Anti-Slavery Examiner, Omnibus|American Anti-Slavery Society
The engagement had been sanctioned officially by Mrs Bathurst.
The Pagan's Cup|Fergus Hume
Let these bachelor customs of yours be sanctioned as entirely suitable—then we should be able to join issue with you.
Three Comedies|Bjrnstjerne M. Bjrnson
This rule, then, is founded in the nature of things, and sanctioned by good usage.
English Grammar in Familiar Lectures|Samuel Kirkham

British Dictionary definitions for sanction

sanction

/ (ˈsæŋkʃən) /

noun

final permission; authorization

aid or encouragement

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

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

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

verb (tr)

to give authority to; permit

to make authorized; confirm

Derived forms of sanction

sanctionable, adjectivesanctioner, nounsanctionless, adjective

Word Origin for sanction

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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sanction

noun

verb (used with object)

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Origin of sanction

OTHER WORDS FROM sanction

Example sentences from the Web for sanction

British Dictionary definitions for sanction

noun

verb (tr)

Derived forms of sanction

Word Origin for sanction

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

sanction

noun

verb (used with object)

SYNONYMS FOR sanction

ANTONYMS FOR sanction

QUIZZES

LEARN THE SPANISH WORDS FOR THESE COMMON ANIMALS!

Origin of sanction

OTHER WORDS FROM sanction

Words related to sanction

Example sentences from the Web for sanction

British Dictionary definitions for sanction

noun

verb (tr)

Derived forms of sanction

Word Origin for sanction