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sanction

/ˈseɪ̯ŋkʃən/noun, verb2 syllables

Sanction means: formal and explicit approval.

Synonyms for sanction27

noun, as in formal and explicit approval

countenance, endorsement, indorsement, warrant, imprimatur

noun, as in official permission or approval

authority, authorization, authorisation

verb, as in give sanction to

approve, O.K., okay

verb, as in give religious sanction to, such as through an oath

sanctify

also used for sanction

approbation, consent, accedence, allowance, approval, assent, OK, assentment, correction, punishment, boycott, embargo, censure, discipline, penalty

Includes material from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

What does sanction mean?7

noun

1

formal and explicit approval“a Democrat usually gets the union's endorsement”

2

official permission or approval“authority for the program was renewed several times”

3

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

4

the act of final authorization“it had the sanction of the church”

verb

1

give sanction to“I approve of his educational policies”

2

give religious sanction to, such as through an oath“sanctify the marriage”

3

give authority or permission to

Definitions from the Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Sanction in a sentence

  • Economic, diplomatic, and travel sanctions can deter nations from committing war crimes.Amastan
  • It is necessary to obtain the sanction of the authorities to enter this building.AlanF_US
  • Such a sanction is an inconceivable aberration in the application of international law.carlosalberto
  • What did we do wrong to deserve this sanction?carlosalberto
  • Sanctions are a tool to deter and penalize countries for their war crimes.Amastan
  • War crimes should trigger sanctions as a punitive measure.Amastan
  • It is improper to impose sanctions upon the union.unknown
  • Sanctions against governments engaging in war crimes are a moral obligation.Amastan

Sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, credited to their authors.

Forms of sanction

as a noun

plural
sanctions

as a verb

past tense
sanctioned
present participle
sanctioning
third-person singular
sanctions
past participle
sanctioned