sanction

1 of 2

noun

sanc·​tion ˈsaŋ(k)-shən 

1

: a formal decree

especially : an ecclesiastical decree

2

a

obsolete : a solemn agreement : oath

b

: something that makes an oath binding

3

: the detriment, loss of reward, or coercive intervention annexed to a violation of a law as a means of enforcing the law

4

a

: a consideration, principle, or influence (as of conscience) that impels to moral action or determines moral judgment

b

: a mechanism of social control for enforcing a society's standards

c

: explicit or official approval, permission, or ratification : approbation

5

: an economic or military coercive measure adopted usually by several nations in concert for forcing a nation violating international law to desist or yield to adjudication

sanction

2 of 2

verb

sanctioned; sanctioning ˈsaŋ(k)-sh(ə-)niŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to make valid or binding usually by a formal procedure (such as ratification)

2

: to give effective or authoritative approval or consent to

… such characters … look, talk, and act in ways sanctioned by society and novelistic tradition …

—Lawrence Chua

3

a

: to attach a sanction or penalty to the violation of (a right, obligation, or command)

… the status, procedures, rights, and duties of members are carefully defined by rules that are sanctioned by fines should they be contravened by members.

—Malcolm Ruel

b

: to impose a sanction or penalty upon

… a Long Island brokerage firm that, at the time, had serious Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC fraud charges pending against it and has since been heavily fined and sanctioned.

—Molly Ivins

sanctionable

ˈsaŋ(k)-sh(ə-)nə-bəl 

adjective

Did you know?

Sanction Has Legal Origins

The noun sanction, meaning "authoritative approval" or "a coercive measure," entered English in the 15th century, and originally referred to a formal decree or law, especially an ecclesiastical decree. (The Latin sancire, meaning "to make holy," is an ancestor.) The noun's meaning then extended in different directions. By the end of the 17th century, it could refer to both a means of enforcing a law (a sense that in the 20th century we began using especially for economic penalties against nations violating international law) and the process of formally approving or ratifying a law. When the verb sanction appeared in the 18th century, it had to do with ratifying laws as well, but it soon acquired an additional, looser sense: "to approve."

Synonyms

Noun

• allowance
• authorization
• clearance
• concurrence
• consent
• granting
• green light
• leave
• license
• licence
• permission
• sufferance
• warrant

Verb

• accredit
• approbate
• approve
• authorize
• clear
• confirm
• finalize
• formalize
• homologate
• OK
• okay
• ratify
• warrant

Choose the Right Synonym for sanction

approve, endorse, sanction, accredit, certify mean to have or express a favorable opinion of.

approve often implies no more than this but may suggest considerable esteem or admiration.

the parents approve of the marriage

endorse suggests an explicit statement of support.

publicly endorsed her for Senator

sanction implies both approval and authorization.

the President sanctioned covert operations

accredit and certify usually imply official endorsement attesting to conformity to set standards.

the board voted to accredit the college

must be certified to teach

Examples of sanction in a Sentence

Noun

The country acted without the sanction of the other nations.

Their policy has legal sanction.

Verb

The government has sanctioned the use of force.

His actions were not sanctioned by his superiors.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Venezuela’s social programs have in the past been funded by oil revenues, which have been drastically cut by unilateral sanctions by the United States over nearly two decades, according to a report by United Nations Special Rapporteur Alena Douhan. —Nell Salzman, Chicago Tribune, 10 Sep. 2023

Key developments Ukraine on Friday froze the assets of Ihor Kolomoisky, a tycoon facing graft allegations, already under indictment and sanctions in the United States over accusations of bank fraud. —Siobhán O'Grady, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2023

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., announced new sanctions this week against a warring party leader in Sudan's civil war. —Andrea Mitchell, NBC News, 7 Sep. 2023

Kim Jong Un may meet Putin to discuss arms deal, US says Despite the UN sanctions, Kim has been developing his ballistic missile program at breakneck pace for the past two years. —Brad Lendon, CNN, 7 Sep. 2023

Getty Images Seeking to tackle these problems is the International Tennis Federation, which certifies tennis balls and sanctions competitions around the world. —CBS News, 6 Sep. 2023

Some companies have been wary of doing business with Russia because of those sanctions, even though Western allies have made assurances that food and fertilizer are exempt. —Compiled By Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 5 Sep. 2023

A couple of weeks after Sheehan proudly and honestly told me that he’d never been sanctioned by a court for filing something frivolous, a court threatened him with sanctions for filing something frivolous. —Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2023

The company, part of Huawei until 2020, appears to be building its empire outside the reach of U.S. regulators, which previously instituted sanctions that hurt the business. —Rachyl Jones, Fortune, 1 Sep. 2023

Verb

She was sanctioned in Michigan for alleging the election was fraudulent. —Tori Otten, The New Republic, 6 Sep. 2023

But most of these are primary sanctions, which can only be enforced within the territory of the sanctioning country. —Mostafa Salem, CNN, 6 Sep. 2023

In contrast, other sources only sanction high-fat foods, which don't immediately spike insulin. —Cynthia Sass, Mph, Rd, Health, 5 Sep. 2023

A couple of weeks after Sheehan proudly and honestly told me that he’d never been sanctioned by a court for filing something frivolous, a court threatened him with sanctions for filing something frivolous. —Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2023

Sunday’s event is the only road race in the United States sanctioned by the UCI, cycling’s world governing body that also endorses, among others, the Tour de France. —Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 3 Sep. 2023

Washington plugged the loopholes one by one, including sanctioning SMIC, the only factory in China potentially capable of manufacturing advanced chips for Huawei — and pushing for suppliers of specialized chipmaking gear to halt sales to China more broadly. —Eva Dou, Washington Post, 2 Sep. 2023

Our fact-check sources: Christopher Blair, Aug. 3, Email exchange with USA TODAY IOC, Nov. 22, 2017, IOC sanctions four Russian athletes as part of Oswald Commission findings IOC, accessed Aug. 31, Press releases IOC, accessed Aug. 31, Mr. Thomas Bach Thank you for supporting our journalism. —Joedy McCreary, USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2023

When Risher was named CEO of Lyft in April, one of his first acts in the job was to sanction layoffs of 1,200 employees. —Bypaolo Confino, Fortune, 22 Aug. 2023

See More

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin sanction-, sanctio, from sancire to make holy — more at sacred

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1778, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sanction

• pragmatic sanction

• pragmatic sanction

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Kids Definition

sanction

1 of 2 noun

sanc·​tion ˈsaŋ(k)-shən 

1

: an action taken to enforce a law or rule

2

: official permission or approval

3

: a measure used to punish or prevent action

sanction

2 of 2 verb

sanctioned; sanctioning

-sh(ə-)niŋ

1

: to officially accept or allow

2

: to impose a penalty upon

Legal Definition

sanction

1 of 2 noun

sanc·​tion ˈsaŋk-shən 

1

: a punitive or coercive measure or action that results from failure to comply with a law, rule, or order

a sanction for contempt

2

: explicit or official approval

3

: an economic or military coercive measure adopted usually by several nations in concert for forcing a nation violating international law to desist or yield to adjudication

sanction

2 of 2 transitive verb

1

: to give official approval or consent to : ratify

2

: to impose a sanction on

sanctioned the lawyer for professional misconduct