sanction
Americannoun
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authoritative permission or approval, as for an action.
- Synonyms:
- authorization
- Antonyms:
- prohibition, interdiction
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something that serves to support an action, condition, etc.
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something that gives binding force, as to an oath, rule of conduct, etc.
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Law.
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a provision of a law enacting a penalty for disobedience or a reward for obedience.
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the penalty or reward.
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International Law. action by one or more states toward another state calculated to force it to comply with legal obligations.
verb (used with object)
noun
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final permission; authorization
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aid or encouragement
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something, such as an ethical principle, that imparts binding force to a rule, oath, etc
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the penalty laid down in a law for contravention of its provisions
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(often plural) a coercive measure, esp one taken by one or more states against another guilty of violating international law
verb
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to give authority to; permit
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to make authorized; confirm
Usage
What does sanction mean? Sanction has two main senses that are almost opposites: it can refer to authorizing or approving something, or to penalizing or disciplining someone or something. Sanction can be used as a verb (meaning to authorize or to penalize) or a noun (meaning approval or penalty). It is most commonly used in official contexts. As a noun referring to a penalty, it is especially applied to situations in which one country’s government imposes economic sanctions on another to try to force it to comply with laws or certain expectations. Example: Economic sanctions are intended to force regimes to play by the rules, but they often end up hurting the average citizen.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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nonsanctionnoun
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sanctionernoun
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unsanctioningadjective
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sanctionableadjective
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supersanctionverb (used with object)
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sanctionativeadjective
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sanctionlessadjective
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unsanctionableadjective
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resanctionverb (used with object)
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has sanctionedperfect 3rd person singular
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have sanctionedperfect
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are sanctioningprogressive
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have been sanctioningperfect progressive
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am sanctioningprogressive 1st person singular
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has been sanctioningperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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sanctionssingular 3rd person
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sanctioningparticiple
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is sanctioningprogressive 3rd person singular
Past
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had sanctionedperfect
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was sanctioningprogressive singular
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were sanctioningprogressive plural
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had been sanctioningperfect progressive
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sanctionedparticiple
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sanctionedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of sanction
First recorded in 1555–65; from Latin sānctiōn- (stem of sānctiō ), equivalent to sānct(us) (past participle of sancīre “to prescribe by law”) + -iōn- noun suffix; see -ion
Explanation
Sanction has two nearly opposite meanings: to sanction can be to approve of something, but it can also mean to punish, or speak harshly to. Likewise, a sanction can be a punishment or approval. Very confusing — the person who invented this word should be publicly sanctioned! See if you can guess the meaning of sanction in the following contexts. Before invading Iraq, the U.S. and its allies first imposed sanctions on the country, refusing to supply the country with much-needed trade items. Did you guess that sanction = "punishment"? You were right! But by trading with China at the same time, the U.S. quietly sanctioned that nation's known instances of human rights abuses. Did you guess that sanction = "approval"? You're right again!
Vocabulary lists containing sanction
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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Two-Faced Words: Contronyms
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The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 5
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"If you sanction someone because they're doing some behaviour and they change the behaviour, then by definition the sanction cannot stay."
From BBC • Jun. 13, 2026
He does not necessarily get universal sanction from the press.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2026
When providers submit high bills, insurers often attempt to negotiate lower prices and can investigate and sanction providers suspected of fraud.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026
Treasury can block the dollar transfers under existing sanction authorities.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026
This order is subject to all judicial enforcement and sanction.
From "While the World Watched: A Birmingham Bombing Survivor Comes of Age during the Civil Rights Movement" by Carolyn Maull McKinstry
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
