embargo

noun em·bar·go \ im-ˈbär-(ˌ)gō \

Updated on: 13 Oct 2017

Definition of embargo

plural embargoes

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

See embargo defined for English-language learners

See embargo defined for kids

embargo was our Word of the Day on 01/02/2010. Hear the podcast!

Examples of embargo in a Sentence

there's a standing embargo against the use of foul language in this house

Recent Examples of embargo from the Web

The SPR was established in the 1970s to prevent supply shocks in the wake of an embargo imposed by several members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

— author: ernest scheyder, erwin seba, Alaska Dispatch News, "Harvey throws a wrench into the U.S. energy engine," 28 Aug. 2017
The U.S. government... invaded Cuba, put the blockade [embargo] in place, imposed restrictive measures.

— nora gámez torres, miamiherald, "Video offers rare glimpse of hardline ideology from presumed next leader of Cuba," 22 Aug. 2017
The same dynamic played out in June, as Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations imposed an embargo on Qatar, delivering a fraught crisis to the oil-rich Persian Gulf.

— peter s. goodman, New York Times, "In the Age of Trump, the Dollar No Longer Seems a Sure Thing," 9 Aug. 2017
Reverse Traffic With so much at stake, a full embargo is probably near the bottom of the Trump administration’s battle plan, said Clearview’s Book.

— alex nussbaum, Bloomberg.com, "As Venezuela Spirals, U.S. Oil Confronts a $10 Billion Threat," 3 Aug. 2017
Why there has not been a resumption of an absolute global trade embargo against both North Korea and Iran is one of the strangest historical developments of the young century.

— victor davis hanson, National Review, "The Korean Games of Thrones," 25 July 2017
Until late afternoon, when CKLW-TV in Windsor broke the embargo, rumors raced among Detroit’s 1.5 million residents as thick columns of black smoke rose over the west side.

— bill mcgraw, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit '67: 'We've got trouble' — Routine police raid ignites 5 days of rioting," 22 July 2017
Lacazette was about to join Atletico Madrid in the summer but the transfer embargo that stops them signing players until January allowed Wenger to pounce.

— SI.com, "Source Reveals How Wenger's Eye for Details Helped Bring Lacazette to Emirates," 20 July 2017
In a Facebook Live interview with the Boycott, Diversions, and Sanctions Movement, Waters spoke about his involvement with his cultural embargo of Israel, due to the country’s ongoing occupation of Palestine.

— dale eisinger, Billboard, "Roger Waters says Radiohead's Thom Yorke Ignored Emails From Him and Brian Eno," 17 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'embargo.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

When Should You Use embargo?

Embargoes may be put in place for any number of reasons. For instance, a government may place a trade embargo against another country to express its disapproval with that country’s policies. But governments are not the only bodies that can place embargoes. A publisher, for example, could place an embargo on a highly anticipated book to prevent stores from selling it before its official release date. The word embargo, dating from the late 16th century, derives via Spanish embargar from Vulgar Latin imbarricare, formed from the prefix in- and the noun "barra" ("bar").

Origin and Etymology of embargo

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

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First Known Use: 1593

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embargo Synonyms

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

embargo

verb

Definition of embargo

embargoed; embargoing

transitive verb

:to place an embargo on

Recent Examples of embargo from the Web

Now that vital flow could be stanched if, as industry leaders fear, President Donald Trump’s administration embargoes imports to pressure his Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolas Maduro.

— alex nussbaum, Bloomberg.com, "As Venezuela Spirals, U.S. Oil Confronts a $10 Billion Threat," 3 Aug. 2017

First Known Use of embargo

1755

Other Government and Politics Terms

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

Financial Definition of EMBARGO

embargo

noun

What It Is

An embargo is a government-instituted prevention of exports to a certain country.

In the media world, an embargo is the release of information with the condition that it cannot be published or disseminated before a certain date. Companies often embargo press releases, meaning that they disseminate them to the media with the condition that the media not report the story until after a certain date.

How It Works

Let's say Country A dislikes Country B's human rights policies. In order to coerce Country B to change its ways, Country A forbids its companies from selling widgets to Country B. Country B has a huge demand for widgets, and being "cut off" from Country A's widgets could encourage Country B's citizens to demand that Country B's government change its ways.

In many cases, a group of countries will join an embargo so that a country like Country B can't just start buying widgets elsewhere. Sometimes countries will embargo all products with other countries.

The Magna Carta is one of the world's first and most famous embargoes. Another famous embargo is the one between the U.S. and Cuba, which has not received most American goods for 50 years.

Why It Matters

Embargoes are political strategies. Economies are increasingly global, which makes them even more powerful when they involve countries that rely on imports for day-to-day needs.

Critics point out that a country's choice not to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) may effectively place an embargo on the goods and services of that country, because WTO members often trade only with each other or give preferential treatment to other WTO members.

Source: Investing Answers

EMBARGO Defined for English Language Learners

embargo

noun

Definition of embargo for English Language Learners

: a government order that limits trade in some way

EMBARGO Defined for Kids

embargo

noun em·bar·go \ im-ˈbär-gō \

Definition of embargo for Students

plural embargoes

:an order of a government forbidding ships engaged in trade from leaving its ports

an oil embargo

Law Dictionary

embargo

noun em·bar·go \ im-ˈbär-gō, em- \

legal Definition of embargo

plural embargoes

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

2 :a legal prohibition on commerce

an embargo on arms shipments

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

Origin and Etymology of embargo

Spanish, from embargar to bar

embargo

transitive verb

legal Definition of embargo

embargoed; embargoing

:to place an embargo on

Learn More about embargo

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for embargo Spanish Central: Translation of embargo Nglish: Translation of embargo for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of embargo for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about embargo

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embargo was our Word of the Day on 01/02/2010. Hear the podcast!

Examples of embargo in a Sentence

Recent Examples of embargo from the Web

When Should You Use embargo?

Origin and Etymology of embargo

embargo Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Other Government and Politics Terms

embargo

Definition of embargo

Recent Examples of embargo from the Web

First Known Use of embargo

Other Government and Politics Terms

Financial Definition of EMBARGO

What It Is

How It Works

Why It Matters

EMBARGO Defined for English Language Learners

embargo

Definition of embargo for English Language Learners

EMBARGO Defined for Kids

embargo

Definition of embargo for Students

Law Dictionary

embargo

legal Definition of embargo

Origin and Etymology of embargo

embargo

legal Definition of embargo

Learn More about embargo

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