sanction

1 of 2

noun

sanc·tion ˈsaŋ(k)-shən

: 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

Would owner Jeremy Jacobs sanction Neely or general manager Don Sweeney?

Dan Shaughnessy, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Nov. 2022 To evade capture, some yacht owners have moved their vessels to the sanction-free waters of Russia and Turkey.

Tori Latham, Robb Report, 7 Oct. 2022 Rhodes has long dreamed of a broader militia structure with political and legal sanction.

Mike Giglio, The New Yorker, 1 Oct. 2022 Schools don’t sanction nor organize these trips, according to spokeswomen from the Graduate School of Business, Kellogg, Fuqua and spokesmen from Tuck, Wharton, and HBS.

Lindsay Ellis, WSJ, 9 Sep. 2022 After a two-year investigation into claims Instagram infringed on children's privacy by publishing the email addresses and phone numbers of kids aged 13 to 17, DPC issued the sanction, which was first reported by Politico.

Stephanie Mlot, PCMAG, 6 Sep. 2022 The tension between Beijing and Hong Kong is at a breaking point as the mainland continues to sanction, censor and even arrest political dissidents calling for an independent country.

Fox News, 7 July 2022 But complex procedures and political wrangling allowed Hungary to avoid major financial punishment since joining the bloc in 2004, something that may no longer be given as the EU tests its new preemptive sanction.

Fox News, 19 Sep. 2022 On Fox News, Jesse Watters reported the agents will face some level of administrative sanction, whether that be a proverbial slap on the wrist or loss of job.

Fox News, 16 June 2022

Verb

The European Union is preparing to sanction Iran for supplying Russia with drones used to strike targets in Ukraine, according to two E.U. diplomats, in yet another sign of deteriorating ties between Brussels and Tehran.

Emily Rauhala, Washington Post, 19 Oct. 2022 The National Labor Relations Board had to sanction the company for withholding raises and other benefits from its newly unionized workers.

The Week Staff, The Week, 18 Sep. 2022 As a teacher at Davis High School, Carr lobbied the Utah High School Activities Association to sanction more sports for girls.

Alex Vejar, The Salt Lake Tribune, 21 June 2022 The two countries are also at odds over Russia, which China has refused to condemn or sanction over its invasion of Ukraine, and the status of Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory and threatens to attack.

BostonGlobe.com, 20 Nov. 2022 But Fischer preemptively sued the commission, seeking to block any effort to sanction him over his campaign, and ultimately won a temporary injunction from the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Deborah Yetter, The Courier-Journal, 8 Nov. 2022 The rule Griggsby cited for a possible reason to sanction them does not include potential punishments.

Lee O. Sanderlin, Baltimore Sun, 25 Oct. 2022 Before the trial, lawyers for the parents suing Jones filed a motion asking the judge to sanction him for failing to produce evidence.

Jake Bleiberg, Chron, 11 Aug. 2022 Before the trial, lawyers for the parents suing Jones filed a motion asking the judge to sanction him for failing to produce evidence.

Jake Bleiberg, Chicago Tribune, 10 Aug. 2022 See More

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.

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 7 Dec. 2022.

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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