embargo

noun em·bar·go \ im-ˈbär-(ˌ)gō \

|Updated on: 13 Jul 2018

Examples: embargo in a Sentence

Editor's Note: When Should You Use embargo?

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 02/08/2018. 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

Salame, for his part, appeared to shoot down another Salvini call last week to end the U.N. arms embargo on Libya.

— Washington Post, "EU: Italy complaints about EU navy mission can be discussed," 9 July 2018
Salame, for his part, appeared to shoot down another Salvini call last week to end the U.N. arms embargo on Libya.

— nicole winfield, The Seattle Times, "EU: Italy complaints about EU navy mission can be discussed," 9 July 2018
The United Nations had imposed an arms embargo and a partial travel ban on Eritrea, citing its disputes with neighboring countries.

— selam gebrekidan, New York Times, "Ethiopia and Eritrea Declare an End to Their War," 9 July 2018
The foundation promotes the Helms-Burton bill to tighten the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba.

— christopher marquis, miamiherald, "Jorge Mas Canosa dead at 58," 15 June 2018
The airline blames its spotty record on a lack of parts and airplanes because of the U.S. trade embargo against the communist-run country.

— andrea rodriguez and michael weissenstein, USA TODAY, "Cuba: 3 survivors in grave condition after airliner with 110 aboard crashes," 19 May 2018
Cuba’s airlines have difficulty procuring replacement parts thanks to embargoes placed on the country by the U.S. and other countries, and many of their aircraft are poorly maintained.

— avery thompson, Popular Mechanics, "Plane Crash in Cuba Leaves Over 100 Dead," 18 May 2018
And there is now a strong U.S. sentiment for slapping an embargo on Tobago Sauce.

— scott ostler, SFChronicle.com, "Fans party at Avaya Stadium as they watch Mexico beat South Korea," 23 June 2018
Some Google services, such as Project Shield, are not available on the island because of the U.S. embargo, despite broad exceptions for the telecommunications sector.

— nora gámez torres, miamiherald, "Google and Cuba close to finalizing agreement to expand internet access on the island," 6 June 2018

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1602

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

embargo Synonyms

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

The remarks will be embargoed until the end of the call.

— richard bravo, Bloomberg.com, "Threat of Trade Brawl Hangs on Trump’s Looming Tariff Deadline," 31 May 2018
The ruling allows authorities to embargo any properties or money owned by the church, including bonds, cars and artwork.

— Fox News, "Judge orders embargo of Puerto Rico Catholic church accounts," 27 Mar. 2018
Reporters regularly agree to embargo logistical details of trips to war zones, but are not typically asked to sign a document binding them to do so.

— maggie haberman, New York Times, "White House Job Requirement: Signing a Nondisclosure Agreement," 21 Mar. 2018
The report, and Kasich's remarks, were embargoed until the report's release Tuesday morning.

— monroe trombly, Cincinnati.com, "Ohio Gov. John Kasich to Donald Trump: Frustrated? 'Sit on your hands and keep your mouth shut'," 16 Jan. 2018
Formal reviews for The Last Jedi have been embargoed before the Dec.15 opening.

— bryan alexander, USA TODAY, "'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' premiere kicks off with cheers for Luke Skywalker's return," 10 Dec. 2017
On August 5, the US drafted a UN resolution that embargoed all imports of North Korean coal, iron, lead and seafood and required nations to cap employment of DPRK workers.

— nicole gaouette, CNN, "Trump says UN North Korea sanctions are 'not a big deal'," 12 Sep. 2017
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

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

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

Definition of embargo

embargo was our Word of the Day on 02/08/2018. 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

Near Antonyms

Related Words

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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