embargo

noun

em·bar·go | \ im-ˈbär-(ˌ)gō

plural embargoes

Definition of embargo

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

embargo

verb

embargoed; embargoing

Definition of embargo (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to place an embargo on

Synonyms & Antonyms When Should You Use embargo? More Example Sentences Learn More about embargo

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Synonyms & Antonyms for embargo

Synonyms: Noun

ban, interdict, interdiction, prohibition, proscription, veto

Antonyms: Noun

prescription

When Should You Use embargo?

Noun

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").

Examples of embargo in a Sentence

Noun

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

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The international community's patience has been waning with the young nation and last month the U.N. Security Council imposed an arms embargo. — Sam Mednick, Fox News, "South Sudan's warring leaders sign peace deal to share power," 5 Aug. 2018 Similar technology helped apartheid-era South Africa withstand a 1980s oil embargo. — Jeremy Page, WSJ, "North Korea Turns Coal Into Gas to Weather Sanctions," 17 Dec. 2018 In June, The New York Times reported that the Trump administration was calling for a global embargo on Iranian oil imports. — Kaylen Ralph, Teen Vogue, "President Donald Trump Threatened Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Twitter," 23 July 2018 The tunnels were built after the Islamist militant group Hamas took over Gaza in 2007 and Israel, in a bid to protect itself, imposed a stifling embargo. — Hana Salah, latimes.com, "A baby girl dies in the haze of Gaza," 16 May 2018 That’s why some experts don’t believe a full embargo will work. — Alex Ward, Vox, "Trump just canceled Pompeo’s big trip to North Korea. That’s a really bad sign.," 24 Aug. 2018 The nascent environmental movement, the founding of Earth Day, and the energy crisis created by the OPEC embargo, made an embrace of lower-emission rail and bus service both a practical and progressive stance. — Patrick Sisson, Curbed, "Public transit’s missed opportunity," 20 Nov. 2018 The noise around the embargo against Iran is calming and the oil market’s focus is shifting to the prospects of oversupply next year. — Benoit Faucon, WSJ, "OPEC and Russia Prepare for Clash Over Oil Output Cuts," 9 Nov. 2018 Shifts toward quality slowly began to take shape after the fall of Communism in 1991, but there were crippling obstacles: Russia’s wine embargoes in 2006 and 2013. — Alia Akkam, Vogue, "Why Moldova Is a Wine Destination Worth Knowing Now," 27 Sep. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

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

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.

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Last Updated

12 Jan 2019

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The first known use of embargo was in 1602

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More Definitions for embargo

embargo

noun

Financial Definition of embargo

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

noun