sanction

noun
UK: /ˈsæŋkʃən/
US: /ˈsæŋkʃən/

  1. An official order that limits trade, contact, etc., with a particular country, in order to make it do something.

    1. The UN may sanction the country if it doesn't comply.
    2. Economic sanctions were imposed on the country following its invasion of its neighbor.

  2. Official permission or approval for an action or a change.

    1. The project received sanction from the authorities.
    2. Without the manager's sanction, the team couldn't proceed with the new marketing strategy.

Synonyms

authorization permission approval penalty ban prohibit
sanction verb

  1. To officially approve of something.

    1. The government will sanction the new policy.
    2. The school board sanctioned the use of new textbooks in the classroom.

  2. To punish a country by limiting trade or other activities.

    1. The US may sanction Russia if it invades Ukraine.
    2. Many countries sanctioned the regime after the human rights violations were revealed.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "sanction" in English means: An official order that limits trade, contact, etc., with a particular country, in order to make it do something., Official permission or approval for an action or a change..

The phonetic transcription of "sanction" is /ˈsæŋkʃən/ in British English and /ˈsæŋkʃən/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "sanction": authorization, permission, approval, penalty, ban, prohibit.

Example usage of "sanction": "The UN may sanction the country if it doesn't comply.". More examples on the page.