sanction

noun sanc·tion \ ˈsaŋ(k)-shən \

|Updated on: 9 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: sanction in a Sentence

Editor's Note: sanction Has Legal Origins

Definition of sanction

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

See sanction defined for English-language learners

See sanction defined for kids

sanction was our Word of the Day on 01/23/2017. Hear the podcast!

Examples of sanction in a Sentence

The country acted without the sanction of the other nations.
Their policy has legal sanction.

Recent Examples of sanction from the Web

Trump pledged to save ZTE, a large Chinese telecom-equipment maker banned from purchasing U.S. technology for violating sanctions, as an apparent favor to Xi, but was attacked by lawmakers of both parties.

— ian bremmer, Time, "The U.S. Trade War with China Has Reached a Dangerous New Phase," 1 June 2018
In the meantime, the United States imposed debilitating economic sanctions to force Iraq to ditch its nuclear weapons program once and for all.

— peter schwartzstein, Smithsonian, "How Saddam and ISIS Killed Iraqi Science," 30 May 2018
With regard to the maximum pressure campaign, are there plans to impose additional sanctions on North Korea in the next few weeks, now this comes up (ph)?

— CNN, "READ: The White House's background briefing on the North Korea Summit," 27 May 2018
Buy Photo The national Association of Art Museum Directors, unhappy with the sale of artworks from institutional collections, has imposed sanctions on the La Salle University Art Museum and the Berkshire Museum, the AAMD announced Friday.

— stephan salisbury, Philly.com, "Sanctions imposed on La Salle for sale of art," 25 May 2018
Prosecutors have said that beginning around 2012, Atilla was involved in a scheme to help Iran spend oil and gas revenues abroad using fraudulent gold and food transactions through Halkbank, violating U.S. sanctions.

— NBC News, "Turkish banker sentenced to 32 months in Iran sanctions case," 16 May 2018
Instead, they were lobbied on repealing the Magnitsky Act, a 2012 law that imposed new sanctions on prominent Russians, according to The Washington Post.

— christianna silva, Teen Vogue, "The Senate Judiciary Committee Released 2,500 Pages of Documents About a Trump Tower Meeting," 16 May 2018
The Trump administration pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal and promised to re-impose sanctions on Tehran; that decision has been connected to the rising price of crude.

— dan rodricks, baltimoresun.com, "Hard to find the Chevy Bolt in heavy traffic," 15 May 2018
The European Union is also considering legislation to nullify the effects of Trump’s sanctions on E.U. companies for engaging in transactions with Iran.

— robin wright, The New Yorker, "The End of the Iran Deal and Trump’s New, Confrontational Foreign Policy," 13 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sanction.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of sanction

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

sanction Synonyms

sanction

verb

Definition of sanction

sanctioned; sanctioning play \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

play \ˈsaŋ(k)-sh(ə-)nə-bəl\ adjective

See sanction defined for English-language learners

Examples of sanction in a Sentence

The government has sanctioned the use of force.
His actions were not sanctioned by his superiors.

Recent Examples of sanction from the Web

Sure, official national holidays are sanctioned by the government.

— madeline mitchell, Cincinnati.com, "Happy National Cheese Day: Who comes up with national food days?," 4 June 2018
The North Korean general also has been accused of being involved in the 2010 sinking of a South Korean warship that killed 46 sailors, and has been sanctioned by the European Union as well.

— vivian salama, WSJ, "Trump Says June Summit With Kim Jong Un Is Back On," 1 June 2018
He had been personally sanctioned by the United States over his role in the North's nuclear weapons program and is thought to have masterminded an attack that sank a South Korean naval vessel in 2010, killing 46 sailors.

— david nakamura, Anchorage Daily News, "Trump says summit with North Korean leader is back on for June 12," 1 June 2018
Additionally, only five religions are sanctioned by China’s government, but restrictions against even those can be severe, the report said.

— gardiner harris, New York Times, "Myanmar Is Intensifying Violence Against Ethnic Minorities, U.S. Says," 29 May 2018
The rodeo, which will be sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, will add $355,000 in additional prize money.

— william wilkerson, star-telegram, "Over $2 million in prize money for this event headed to AT&T Stadium," 29 May 2018
Willrich said other law schools with similar or lower student credentials have not been found out of compliance with ABA standards nor been sanctioned by the ABA.

— anne ryman, azcentral, "Arizona Summit Law School sues American Bar Association, claims abuse of power," 24 May 2018
According to Wylie, former Cambridge Analytica CEO Alexander Nix once sent the Russian oil juggernaut Lukoil, which is sanctioned by the United States government, a white paper laying out all of the data Cambridge Analytica had on Americans.

— issie lapowsky, WIRED, "Senators Grill Whistleblower on Cambridge Analytica's Inner Workings," 16 May 2018
About one-quarter of them are co-sanctioned with the All Stars or Midwest Open Wheel Association.

— dave kallmann, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "10 things to know when Tony Stewart's sprint-car series comes to Plymouth and Sun Prairie," 15 May 2018

sanction Has Legal Origins

Sanction can also be a noun meaning "authoritative approval" or "a coercive measure." The noun entered English first, in the 15th century, and originally referred to a formal decree, especially an ecclesiastical decree. (The Latin sancire, meaning "to make holy," is an ancestor.) By the end of the 17th century, the meaning of the noun "sanction" had extended to 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. Soon it had also acquired an additional, looser sense: "to approve."

First Known Use of sanction

1778

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

sanction Synonyms

Synonyms

accredit, approve, authorize, clear, confirm, finalize, formalize, OK (or okay), ratify, warrant;

Antonyms

decline, deny, disallow, disapprove, negative, reject, turn down, veto;

Near Antonyms

ban, enjoin, forbid, illegalize, interdict, prohibit, proscribe;

disregard, ignore, neglect, overlook;

rebuff, rebut, refuse, spurn;

Related Words

accept, acknowledge, affirm;

certify, endorse (also indorse), validate;

bless, canonize, sanctify;

initial, rubber-stamp, sign, sign off (on);

allow, enable, legalize, license (also licence), pass, permit;

reapprove;

Synonym Discussion of 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

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

SANCTION Defined for English Language Learners

sanction

noun

Definition of sanction for English Language Learners

: an action that is taken or an order that is given to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade with that country, by not allowing economic aid for that country, etc.
: official permission or approval

sanction

verb

Definition of sanction for English Language Learners

: to officially accept or allow (something)

SANCTION Defined for Kids

sanction

noun sanc·tion \ ˈsaŋk-shən \

Definition of sanction for Students

1 : official approval or permission

The soldiers' conduct did not have the king's sanction.

2 : an action (as the ending of financial aid) taken by one or more nations to make another nation comply with a law or rule

sanction

verb

Definition of sanction for Students

sanctioned; sanctioning

: to officially accept or allow

The coaches sanctioned the new rule.

Law Dictionary

sanction

noun sanc·tion \ ˈsaŋk-shən \

legal Definition of sanction

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