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

Keep scrolling for more

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

Because the president's economic team receives the numbers under embargo the afternoon before the report, his optimism was a market-moving tell. — Sarah Ponczek, chicagotribune.com, "Trump Twitter risk adds a new wild card to Friday's jobs report," 5 July 2018 The state media have, in effect, placed two of the three main presidential contenders under embargo. — The Economist, "Turkey’s President Erdogan may yet be defeated," 21 June 2018 The world’s youngest country is also under a U.S. arms embargo. — Washington Post, "US urges regional governments to block South Sudan war money," 11 June 2018 Based on its potential to move financial markets, the jobs report is held under a strict embargo until its official release time. — Adam Shell, USA TODAY, "Trump tweet on jobs report may have breached a 1985 federal directive," 1 June 2018 Grout's farm was also one of the first agricultural wholesalers to sell apples to Cuba when Clinton relaxed the trade embargo in 1999. — Francine Maroukian, Popular Mechanics, "How They Make Applejack Whiskey," 24 Nov. 2016 The experts' report said sanctions against North Korea are also being violated by transfers of coal at sea and the flouting of an arms embargo and financial restrictions. — Fox News, "Russia holds up release of report on North Korea sanctions," 30 Aug. 2018 In addition to lifting the arms embargo, the U.N. Security Council removed a travel ban and an asset freeze, potentially paving the way for an economic opening and for Eritrea to become more involved in regional conflicts, including in Yemen. — Julia Steers, WSJ, "United Nations Lifts Sanctions on ‘Africa’s North Korea’," 14 Nov. 2018 Today, OnePlus is announcing its newest flagship smartphone and lifting the review embargo. — Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, "OnePlus 6T Review: Amazing value with an even more amazing fingerprint reader," 29 Oct. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Inspectors for the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene have started to embargo products that contain cannabidiol, or CBD, during regular, periodic restaurant inspections. — Melanie Grayce West, WSJ, "NYC Cracks Down on Businesses Selling CBD-Infused Food and Drinks," 5 Feb. 2019 But this time, as the Trump administration moves to embargo Venezuelan oil, the White House’s key Middle Eastern ally won’t be as eager to rush to its aid, say people familiar with the kingdom’s thinking. — Benoit Faucon, WSJ, "Saudis Not Rushing to Respond to Venezuela Oil Ban," 29 Jan. 2019 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

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.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about embargo

Listen to Our Podcast about embargo

Dictionary Entries near embargo

Statistics for embargo

Last Updated

15 Jun 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for embargo

The first known use of embargo was in 1602

See more words from the same year

Keep scrolling for more

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