sanction

1 of 2

noun

sanc·​tion ˈsaŋ(k)-shən How to pronounce sanction (audio)
1
: a formal decree
especially : an ecclesiastical decree
2
a
obsolete : a solemn agreement : oath
b
: something that makes an oath binding
3
: the detriment, loss of reward, or coercive intervention annexed to a violation of a law as a means of enforcing the law
4
a
: a consideration, principle, or influence (as of conscience) that impels to moral action or determines moral judgment
b
: a mechanism of social control for enforcing a society's standards
c
: explicit or official approval, permission, or ratification : approbation
5
: an economic or military coercive measure adopted usually by several nations in concert for forcing a nation violating international law to desist or yield to adjudication

sanction

2 of 2

verb

sanctioned; sanctioning ˈsaŋ(k)-sh(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce sanction (audio)

transitive verb

1
: to make valid or binding usually by a formal procedure (such as ratification)
2
: to give effective or authoritative approval or consent to
… such characters … look, talk, and act in ways sanctioned by society and novelistic tradition …Lawrence Chua
3
a
: to attach a sanction or penalty to the violation of (a right, obligation, or command)
… the status, procedures, rights, and duties of members are carefully defined by rules that are sanctioned by fines should they be contravened by members.Malcolm Ruel
b
: to impose a sanction or penalty upon
… a Long Island brokerage firm that, at the time, had serious Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC fraud charges pending against it and has since been heavily fined and sanctioned.Molly Ivins
sanctionable adjective

Did you know?

Sanction Has Legal Origins

The noun sanction, meaning "authoritative approval" or "a coercive measure," entered English in the 15th century, and originally referred to a formal decree or law, especially an ecclesiastical decree. (The Latin sancire, meaning "to make holy," is an ancestor.) The noun's meaning then extended in different directions. By the end of the 17th century, it could refer to both a means of enforcing a law (a sense that in the 20th century we began using especially for economic penalties against nations violating international law) and the process of formally approving or ratifying a law. When the verb sanction appeared in the 18th century, it had to do with ratifying laws as well, but it soon acquired an additional, looser sense: "to approve."

Choose the Right Synonym for sanction

approve, endorse, sanction, accredit, certify mean to have or express a favorable opinion of.

approve often implies no more than this but may suggest considerable esteem or admiration.

the parents approve of the marriage

endorse suggests an explicit statement of support.

publicly endorsed her for Senator

sanction implies both approval and authorization.

the President sanctioned covert operations

accredit and certify usually imply official endorsement attesting to conformity to set standards.

the board voted to accredit the college
must be certified to teach

Examples of sanction in a Sentence

Noun The country acted without the sanction of the other nations. Their policy has legal sanction. Verb The government has sanctioned the use of force. His actions were not sanctioned by his superiors.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The State Department has already signalled a new toughness, putting four violent West Bank settlers under a sanctions regime. Bernard Avishai, The New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2024 Russia had even threatened to leave the partnership in protest over U.S. sanctions, and its space program has suffered greatly since SpaceX now routinely transports people to the ISS, a task NASA once paid Russia handsomely to perform. Christian Davenport, Washington Post, 2 Mar. 2024 Against the backdrop of a growing death toll, sporting bodies and lawmakers have called for sanctions to be placed on Israeli athletes. Amanda Davies, CNN, 1 Mar. 2024 Oil prices have taken a roller coaster trajectory over the last two years in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and as western countries hit Russia with major sanctions. Brian Bushard, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 Orban — who has refused to send weapons to neighbouring Ukraine and repeatedly criticised Western sanctions against Russia — on Monday again urged a ceasefire in Ukraine. Reuters, NBC News, 26 Feb. 2024 The invasion, ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin, has drawn increasingly severe economic sanctions against Russia. Virginia Chamlee, Peoplemag, 24 Feb. 2024 Some of this fuel has been used to supply the U.S. military in a contravention of US sanctions, as companies commit to not buying Iranian fuel when taking on U.S. government contracts. Melik Kaylan, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 Earlier this month, Biden issued an executive order imposing sanctions on four settlers accused of directly perpetrating violence or intimidation in the West Bank. Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 17 Feb. 2024
Verb
Meanwhile, the four racers who lied about Barrett's identity have been sanctioned with a reprimand under UCI regulations, and the team was fined and suspended from participating in the next race on the UCI International Calendar. Kerry Breen, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2024 The teams are independent from NASCAR, which sanctions the 38 races each year and distributes the purses along with revenue from licensing, merchandise and other streams. Jenna Fryer, Quartz, 27 Feb. 2024 Washington must sanction the companies that help deliver weapons from the Middle East and Russia to Sudan. John Prendergast, Foreign Affairs, 27 Feb. 2024 Separately, Sergei Naumenko, a wealthy Russian property developer who isn’t sanctioned, lost his appeal over the detention of his superyacht in London’s Canary Wharf. Jonathan Browning, Fortune Europe, 27 Feb. 2024 This month, the Biden administration sanctioned Israeli settlers accused of attacks in the West Bank, where Palestinians have faced record levels of violence since Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel. Niha Masih, Washington Post, 21 Feb. 2024 As more organizations embrace generative AI tools—and as more users implement rogue generative AI solutions that haven’t been vetted or sanctioned—this level of protection is crucial to minimize the risk of compromising their data security posture. Tony Bradley, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 Beijing, in effect, has sanctioned a larger Russian military role in Asia and provided the political cover and economic lifeline Putin needs to continue fighting in Ukraine. Oriana Skylar Mastro, Foreign Affairs, 19 Feb. 2024 Despite maintaining daily coordination with the U.N., the Israeli government has sanctioned officials deemed biased. Taylor Luck, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sanction.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin sanction-, sanctio, from sancire to make holy — more at sacred

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1778, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sanction was in the 15th century

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Dictionary Entries Near sanction

Cite this Entry

“Sanction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sanction. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sanction

1 of 2 noun
sanc·​tion ˈsaŋ(k)-shən How to pronounce sanction (audio)
1
: an action taken to enforce a law or rule
2
: official permission or approval
3
: a measure used to punish or prevent action

sanction

2 of 2 verb
sanctioned; sanctioning
-sh(ə-)niŋ
1
: to officially accept or allow
2
: to impose a penalty upon

Legal Definition

sanction

1 of 2 noun
sanc·​tion ˈsaŋk-shən How to pronounce sanction (audio)
1
: a punitive or coercive measure or action that results from failure to comply with a law, rule, or order
a sanction for contempt
2
: explicit or official approval
3
: an economic or military coercive measure adopted usually by several nations in concert for forcing a nation violating international law to desist or yield to adjudication

sanction

2 of 2 transitive verb
1
: to give official approval or consent to : ratify
2
: to impose a sanction on
sanctioned the lawyer for professional misconduct

More from Merriam-Webster on sanction

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