embargo

¹em·bar·go

noun \im-ˈbär-(ˌ)gō\

plural em·bar·goes

Definition of EMBARGO

1

: an order of a government prohibiting the departure of commercial ships from its ports

2

: a legal prohibition on commerce <a trade embargo>

3

: stoppage, impediment; especially : prohibition <I lay no embargo on anybody's words — Jane Austen>

4

: an order by a common carrier or public regulatory agency prohibiting or restricting freight transportation

Examples of EMBARGO

1. <there's a standing embargo against the use of foul language in this house>

Origin of EMBARGO

Spanish, from embargar to bar, from Vulgar Latin *imbarricare, from Latin in- + Vulgar Latin *barra bar

First Known Use: 1593

Related to EMBARGO

Synonyms

ban, prohibition, interdict, interdiction, proscription, veto

Antonyms

prescription

Related Words

no-no, taboo (also tabu); constraint, inhibition, limitation, restraint, restriction; deterrent, discouragement; repression, suppression; prevention; denial, disallowance, negation, refusal, rejection; objection, protest; caveat, warning; no-no; commandment, decree, dictate, edict, injunction, mandate

Near Antonyms

sufferance, tolerance, toleration; allowance, allowing, authorization, clearance, consent, granting, leave, letting, license (or licence), licensing (also licencing), permission, permitting, sanction, sanctioning; approbation, approval, blessing, endorsement (also indorsement), imprimatur, OK (or okay); enabling, encouragement, facilitation, promotion, support; compliance, obedience, submission; accession, acquiescence, agreement, assent

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

²embargo

transitive verb

embargoedembargo·ing

Definition of EMBARGO

: to place an embargo on

First Known Use of EMBARGO

1755

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

embargo

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Legal action by a government or group of governments restricting the departure of vessels or movement of goods from some or all locations to one or more countries. A trade embargo is a prohibition on exports to one or more countries. A strategic embargo restricts only the sale of goods that make a direct and specific contribution to a country's military power; similarly, an oil embargo prohibits only the export of oil. Broad embargoes often allow the export of certain goods (e.g., medicines or foodstuffs) to continue for humanitarian purposes, and most multilateral embargoes include escape clauses that specify a limited set of conditions under which exporters may be exempt from their prohibitions. An embargo is a tool of economic warfare that may be employed for a variety of political purposes, including demonstrating resolve, sending a political signal, retaliating for another country's actions, compelling a country to change its behaviour, deterring it from engaging in undesired activities, and weakening its military capability.