Dictionary

sanction en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈseɪ̯ŋkʃən/ (Canada, US)
• [ˈsɛ̃ŋkʃən] ~ [ˈsɛ̃ŋkʃn̩] (Canada, US)
• /ˈsɛ̃ŋkʃən/ (Canada, US)
• [ˈseɪ̯ŋkʃən] ~ [ˈseɪ̯ŋkʃn̩] (Canada, US)
• (US) audio
• /ˈsæŋkʃən/ without æ-raising
• [ˈsæŋkʃən] ~ [ˈsæŋkʃn̩] without æ-raising

Etymology

From Middle French sanction, from Latin sānctiō.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) An approval, by an authority, generally one that makes something valid.
   • The idea that it was more comfortable in the house than out of it, did much towards reconciling his lordship. He felt positively glad that, as his wife had acted without his sanction, she should be subject to all possible inconvenience, as if such could be felt in Henrietta's state of mind. 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “The Truth of Presentiments”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 306:
   • The whalers had been operating in the contested waters off the island with sanction from the Japanese government.
2. (countable, in-plural, uncountable) A penalty, punishment, or some coercive measure, intended to ensure compliance; especially one adopted by several nations, or by an international body.
   • The United States enacted a new round of sanctions against the apartheid regime of South Africa.
3. (countable, uncountable) A law, treaty, or contract, or a clause within a law, treaty, or contract, specifying any of the above.

Forms

Antonyms

permission · allowance · backing · endorsement · confirmation · support

Deriveds

pragmatic sanction · presanction · sanctioneer · antisanction · sanctionless · sanctionism · sanctionary · antisanctions · countersanction · sanctional · cybersanctions · sanctionist · nonsanction · secondary sanction · presanctions

Hypernyms

penalty · prohibition

Relateds

condemnation · blacklist · prohibit

Synonyms

penalties · ban · punishment · punition · sentence · boycott · penalty · sanction · interdiction · embargo · approbation · assentment · correction · accedence · sanction · consent · estoppel · taboo · sanction · injunction · proscription · allowance · boycott · assent · discipline · embargo · accession · censure · OK · approval · consent · punishment · approbation · correction · authorization

Translations (143)

sh са̀нкција (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · cmn 刑罰 /刑罚 (penalty or coercive measure) · kk санкция (penalty or coercive measure) · tr yaptırım (penalty or coercive measure) · ky санкция (penalty or coercive measure) · tr müeyyidat (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · el επικύρωση (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · sw kwazo (penalty or coercive measure) · bg разреше́ние (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · tg таҳрим (penalty or coercive measure) · hi अनुज्ञप्ति (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · da sanktion (penalty or coercive measure) · az sanksiya (penalty or coercive measure) · ko 승인 (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · ar عُقُوبَة (penalty or coercive measure) · sw kwazo (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · th การลงโทษ (penalty or coercive measure) · ca sanció (penalty or coercive measure) · ms sekatan (penalty or coercive measure) · vi sự phê chuẩn (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · nl sanctie (penalty or coercive measure) · es autorización (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · bg одобре́ние (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · ru наказа́ние (penalty or coercive measure) · sh sànkcija (stipulation specifying the above) · fr validation (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · es aprobación (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · uk са́нкція (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · ja 承認 (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · sq sanksion (penalty or coercive measure) · de Billigung (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · pl sankcja (stipulation specifying the above) · ja 刑罰 (penalty or coercive measure) · yue 制裁 (penalty or coercive measure) · sh sànkcija (penalty or coercive measure) · pt sanção (stipulation specifying the above) · bg са́нкция (penalty or coercive measure) · hy պատժամիջոց (penalty or coercive measure) · fi hyväksyntä (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · hy սանկցիա (penalty or coercive measure) · ru са́нкция (stipulation specifying the above) · sw kwazo (stipulation specifying the above) · bg наказа́ние (penalty or coercive measure) · ka სანქცია (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · ar إِعْتِمَاد (penalty or coercive measure) · tr müeyyide (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · ro aprobare (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · hy պատժամիջոց (stipulation specifying the above) · nl bekrachtiging (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · uk са́нкція (penalty or coercive measure) · cmn 認可 /认可 (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · pl sankcja (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · nb godkjennelse (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · ca aprovació (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · lv sankcija (penalty or coercive measure) · mn хориг (penalty or coercive measure) · fr décret (stipulation specifying the above) · it ratifica (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · mk санкција (penalty or coercive measure) · ru разреше́ние (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · ota تصویب (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · lt sankcija (penalty or coercive measure) · el κύρωση (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · ar إِسْتِحْسَان (penalty or coercive measure) · nl erkenning (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · tl sanksyon (penalty or coercive measure) · eo sankcio (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · ja 許可 (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · nb tillatelse (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · fi pakote (penalty or coercive measure) · id sanksi (penalty or coercive measure) · ko 제재 (penalty or coercive measure) · tl sanksiyon (penalty or coercive measure) · ru одобре́ние (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · ja 認可 (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · pt sanção (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · hi प्रतिबंध (penalty or coercive measure) · et sanktsioon (penalty or coercive measure) · cs sankce (penalty or coercive measure) · is refsiaðgerð (penalty or coercive measure) · tg муҷозот (penalty or coercive measure) · ko 인가 (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · nl sanctie (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · it approvazione (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · sl sankcija (penalty or coercive measure) · fi sanktio (penalty or coercive measure) · he גמול (penalty or coercive measure) · it sanzione (penalty or coercive measure) · grc κύρωσις (penalty or coercive measure) · ko 형벌 (penalty or coercive measure) · ru са́нкция (penalty or coercive measure) · fa تحریم (penalty or coercive measure) · tk sanksiýa (penalty or coercive measure) · grc νεῦμα (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · da godkendelse (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · hi मंजूरी (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · ja 拘束 (stipulation specifying the above) · uz sanksiya (penalty or coercive measure) · pt sanção (penalty or coercive measure) · ru са́нкция (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · he פעולת עונשין (penalty or coercive measure) · ja 制裁 (penalty or coercive measure) · be са́нкцыя (penalty or coercive measure) · fr sanction (penalty or coercive measure) · el κύρωση (penalty or coercive measure) · cmn 同意 (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · tr müeyyideler (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · de Sanktion (penalty or coercive measure) · ro sancțiune (penalty or coercive measure) · es decreto (penalty or coercive measure) · ka სანქცია (penalty or coercive measure) · cy sancsiwn (penalty or coercive measure) · cmn 批准 (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · sv sanktion (penalty or coercive measure) · nb sanksjon (stipulation specifying the above) · da tilladelse (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · he עיצום (penalty or coercive measure) · ms sanksi (penalty or coercive measure) · km ទណ្ឌកម្ម (penalty or coercive measure) · vi hình phạt (penalty or coercive measure) · eo sankciumo (penalty or coercive measure) · vi sự đồng ý (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · es sanción (penalty or coercive measure) · fr approbation (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · it convalida (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · pl sankcja (penalty or coercive measure) · fi seuraamus (penalty or coercive measure) · sh sànkcija (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · he עונש (penalty or coercive measure) · hu szankció (penalty or coercive measure) · sh са̀нкција (stipulation specifying the above) · he סנקציה (penalty or coercive measure) · vi sự chấp nhận (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · sh са̀нкција (penalty or coercive measure) · sk sankcia (penalty or coercive measure) · ar عِقَاب (penalty or coercive measure) · de Sanktionierung (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · nb sanksjon (penalty or coercive measure) · hy սանկցիա (stipulation specifying the above) · ro sancțiune (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid) · cmn 制裁 (penalty or coercive measure) · de Sanktionierung (stipulation specifying the above) · es decreto (approval, by an authority, that makes something valid)

sanction en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ˈseɪ̯ŋkʃən/ (Canada, US)
• [ˈsɛ̃ŋkʃən] ~ [ˈsɛ̃ŋkʃn̩] (Canada, US)
• /ˈsɛ̃ŋkʃən/ (Canada, US)
• [ˈseɪ̯ŋkʃən] ~ [ˈseɪ̯ŋkʃn̩] (Canada, US)
• (US) audio
• /ˈsæŋkʃən/ without æ-raising
• [ˈsæŋkʃən] ~ [ˈsæŋkʃn̩] without æ-raising

Etymology

From Middle French sanction, from Latin sānctiō.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To ratify; to make valid.
2. (transitive) To give official authorization or approval to; to countenance.
   • Many of the most earnest Protestants were business men, to whom lending money at interest was essential. Consequently first Calvin, and then other Protestant divines, sanctioned interest. 1946, Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, I.21:
   • The school's inaction further sanctions this misbehavior.
3. (transitive) To penalize (a state etc.) with sanctions.
   • The generative AI chatbot, ChatGPT, can be duped into providing detailed advice on how to commit crimes — ranging from money laundering to the export of weapons to sanctioned countries — a tech startup found. 2024 October 23, Tricia Escobedo, “AI-generated crimes, a treasure mystery, quick thinking by bus passengers: Catch up on the day’s stories”, in CNN:

Forms

Deriveds

sanctionment · unsanctioning · sanctionability · nonsanctioned · sanctionable · sanctioner · unsanctioned · resanction

Translations (56)

cmn 制裁 (to penalize a state, especially for violating international law) · be санкцыяні́раваць (to give authorization or approval to) · th ลงโทษ (to penalize a state, especially for violating international law) · fi antaa hyväksyntä (to give authorization or approval to) · es sancionar (to penalize a state, especially for violating international law) · es aprobar (to give authorization or approval to) · ja 制裁を加える (to penalize a state, especially for violating international law) · grc δοκιμάζω (to give authorization or approval to) · it approvare (to give authorization or approval to) · fr sanctionner (to penalize a state, especially for violating international law) · fr approuver (to give authorization or approval to) · no godkjenne (to give authorization or approval to) · uk санкціонува́ти (to give authorization or approval to) · ru санкциони́ровать (to give authorization or approval to) · pt sancionar (to penalize a state, especially for violating international law) · it ratificare (to give authorization or approval to) · fr autoriser (to give authorization or approval to) · sw kwazo (to give authorization or approval to) · vi phê chuẩn (to give authorization or approval to) · vi chấp nhận (to give authorization or approval to) · no sanksjonere (to penalize a state, especially for violating international law) · pt sancionar (to give authorization or approval to) · no tillate (to give authorization or approval to) · no straffe (to penalize a state, especially for violating international law) · it sancire (to give authorization or approval to) · nl sanctie (to penalize a state, especially for violating international law) · fi sanktioida (to penalize a state, especially for violating international law) · cmn 批准 (to give authorization or approval to) · ja 承認する (to give authorization or approval to) · de sanktionieren (to give authorization or approval to) · es autorizar (to give authorization or approval to) · it sanzionare (to penalize a state, especially for violating international law) · vi phạt (to penalize a state, especially for violating international law) · ca aprovar (to give authorization or approval to) · sv sanktionera (to penalize a state, especially for violating international law) · de sanktionieren (to penalize a state, especially for violating international law) · bg разрешавам (to give authorization or approval to) · fr ratifier (to give authorization or approval to) · sw kwazo (to penalize a state, especially for violating international law) · cmn 認可 /认可 (to give authorization or approval to) · bg одобрявам (to give authorization or approval to) · vi đồng ý (to give authorization or approval to) · pl nakładać sankcje (to penalize a state, especially for violating international law) · bg наказвам (to penalize a state, especially for violating international law) · eo sankciumi (to penalize a state, especially for violating international law) · ja 認可する (to give authorization or approval to) · pl sankcjonować (to give authorization or approval to) · cmn 同意 (to give authorization or approval to) · eo sankcii (to give authorization or approval to) · bg санкционирам (to penalize a state, especially for violating international law) · fa تحریم (to penalize a state, especially for violating international law) · ca sancionar (to penalize a state, especially for violating international law) · es ratificar (to give authorization or approval to) · ja 許可する (to give authorization or approval to) · fi hyväksyä (to give authorization or approval to) · es empurar (to penalize a state, especially for violating international law)