sanction

1 of 2

noun

sanc·tion ˈsaŋ(k)-shən

Synonyms of sanction next

: a formal decree

especially : an ecclesiastical decree

obsolete : a solemn agreement : oath

: something that makes an oath binding

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

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

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

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

: 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

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

: 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

: 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

: 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."

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

Example Sentences

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

There was just one problem: WhatsApp had blocked his account to comply with American sanctions. —

Safiullah Padshah, New York Times, 17 June 2023 How Russia tries to circumvent sanctions The UAE hosts 5,000 US troops in Al Dhafra air base outside its capital Abu Dhabi. —

Becky Anderson, CNN, 16 June 2023 In September 2022, James' office sued Trump, three of his children and the company for $250 million, alleging widespread fraud and demanding a raft of sanctions designed to limit for years their ability to do business in New York. —

Graham Kates, CBS News, 15 June 2023 Canada’s sanctions with Russia also do not prohibit importing or exporting uranium from Russia. —

Leigh R. Curyer, Fortune, 15 June 2023 Shaheen and Cruz eventually proposed bipartisan sanctions against senior Lebanese officials involved in Fakhoury’s detention, and the State Department pushed for his freedom. —

Peter Aitken, Fox News, 15 June 2023 Advertisement Ukrainian troops’ struggle to reclaim territory from Russia’s much larger military has raised questions in NATO capitals about the future of Western support — most importantly, the generous flow of weapons to Kyiv and the sanctions that Western nations have imposed on Moscow. —

Missy Ryan, Washington Post, 15 June 2023 The state’s flagship universities need the rivalry, if for no other reason than to sanction superiority over someone their own size. —

Kevin Sherrington, Dallas News, 15 June 2023 One more thing: Russia’s 10% taxes to make money Russia’s feeling the pinch of continuing the war in Ukraine, and doing business in a world full of sanctions. —

Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz, 14 June 2023

Verb

Though Russian steel is sanctioned, its iron ore is not. —

Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 15 June 2023 While lacrosse is not currently sanctioned in Kentucky, the Kentucky High School Athletic Association has voted to adopt the sport for the 2024-25 school year, pending a final participation survey. —

Jason Frakes, The Courier-Journal, 8 June 2023 Another probe showed around $1.08 billion more was sanctioned to Sandesara Group’s overseas entities from foreign branches of Indian banks. —

Mimansa Verma, Quartz, 8 June 2023 The French government was unequivocal in its criticism of those who opted out – Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castera said the players in question should be sanctioned. —

Colette Davidson, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 June 2023 Comcast, the owner of NBCUniversal, has asked its shareholders to sanction $130 million in executive compensation, including the pay package for Chief Executive Brian Roberts, for 2022 on June 7. —

Anousha Sakoui, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2023 He had been sanctioned by the Trump administration over his role in the acquisition of weapons from Russia as part of China’s military modernization drive. —

Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 30 May 2023 Both Prigozhin and Utkin have been sanctioned by the US, the UK, the EU and Canada. —

Nima Elbagir, CNN, 26 May 2023 Last year, he was sanctioned by the European Union for his support of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. —

Dasha Litvinova, ajc, 6 May 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sanction.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler

The first known use of sanction was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Sanction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sanction. Accessed 9 Jul. 2023.

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Kids Definition

sanction

1 of 2 noun

sanc·tion ˈsaŋ(k)-shən

: an action taken to enforce a law or rule

: official permission or approval

: a measure used to punish or prevent action

sanction

2 of 2 verb

sanctioned; sanctioning

-sh(ə-)niŋ

: to officially accept or allow

: to impose a penalty upon

Legal Definition

sanction

1 of 2 noun

sanc·tion ˈsaŋk-shən

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

a sanction for contempt

: explicit or official approval

: 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