embargo

noun em·bar·go \ im-ˈbär-(ˌ)gō \

Updated on: 22 Apr 2018

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

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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

As reported by the Telegraph, the club will not face a two-window transfer embargo after CAS found nothing wrong with the club's activities that year, but Velez will now have the right to appeal the decision.

— SI.com, "Man City Avoids Transfer Ban After CAS Clears Club in Benjamin Garre Signing," 17 Apr. 2018
The latest sanctions were agreed on Monday after the US removed some of its tougher proposals such as a complete oil embargo, however America is still talking of further action if there is no change.

— david wethe, Houston Chronicle, "Oil-services investors yawn at latest U.S. sanctions on Russia," 9 Apr. 2018
Durbin's visit comes as the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump weighs an embargo on Venezuela's oil shipments.

— scott smith, Fox News, "US senator meets with Venezuelan president, jailed Utah man," 7 Apr. 2018
In incremental steps, Japan drifted toward a near-total embargo after 2002.

— stephan m. haggard, Washington Post, "Those North Korea sanctions might be working. Here’s why.," 6 Apr. 2018
In 2016, the United States adopted a near-total embargo but exempted ivory items older than a century and containing less than 50% ivory, the UK government said.

— zahid mahmood, CNN, "UK to introduce 'one of world's toughest' ivory bans," 3 Apr. 2018
In another trade imbalance, the U.S. continues to import millions of dollars in seafood from Russia, even though that country placed a continuing embargo on purchasing seafood and other goods from the U.S. in 2013.

— laine welch, Anchorage Daily News, "Decline in Pacific halibut fishery not as severe as feared," 26 Mar. 2018
In a few short years, that inflation would soar all but out of control, hitting 11.1% in 1974, worsened by the OPEC oil embargo of the mid-'70s.

— USA TODAY, "Read more from this Project," 18 Mar. 2018
On June 5, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates announced an economic embargo and blockade of Qatar, their tiny neighbor.

— robert f. worth, New York Times, "Can Jim Mattis Hold the Line in Trump’s ‘War Cabinet’?," 26 Mar. 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 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