Word
sanction
Phoneticssanc·tion, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsæŋkʃən/
UK/sˈɑːnkʃən/
Definitions
01economic or political penalty
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Law Formal · Academic
n. a punishment, usually an economic one, that one or more countries use to force another country to obey international law.
n. a coercive measure, typically economic or diplomatic, adopted by one or more nations against another to elicit compliance with international law.
“The United Nations voted to lift the trade sanctions after the peace treaty was signed.”
“The international community imposed stringent economic sanctions on the regime in an effort to curtail its nuclear enrichment programme.”
Usage
Usually used in the plural when referring to international trade restrictions.
Synonyms
02official approval
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal
n. official permission or approval for an action.
n. authoritative permission or approval that makes a course of action valid or acceptable.
日本語:決裁※
“The new research project cannot begin without the official sanction of the university board.”
“The expedition proceeded with the full sanction of the government, ensuring they had access to restricted colonial archives.”
Usage
Often used in the singular in formal administrative contexts.
Synonyms
Antonyms
03to permit or approve
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to give official permission for something to happen.
v. to give official authorization or approval to an action or practice.
日本語:決裁する※
“The city council refused to sanction the construction of the new shopping mall.”
“The governing body declined to sanction the use of the experimental drug until further clinical trials were completed.”
Usage
This is a transitive verb taking a direct object, often an action or a plan.
04to punish or penalize
C1 · Advanced Formal · Technical
v. to punish a person or a country for breaking a rule.
v. to impose a penalty on an entity or to subject a state to coercive measures.
“The sports federation will sanction any athlete who is caught using banned substances.”
“The committee has the power to sanction members who violate the professional code of ethics through fines or suspension.”
Usage
Commonly used in legal, sporting, and diplomatic contexts.
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “sanction” in context.
Verb
01. evade economic sanctions
“Several shell companies were set up to help the corporation evade economic sanctions.”
verb + adj + noun
02. impose sanctions on the regime
“The international community decided to impose sanctions on the regime to protest the human rights violations.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
03. lift sanctions against the country
“Diplomats are discussing the conditions under which the UN might lift sanctions against the country.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
Adjective
04. punitive sanctions
“The committee recommended punitive sanctions to deter other members from breaking the code of conduct.”
adj + noun
05. stringent sanctions
“The government faces stringent sanctions if it continues to violate the peace treaty.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. threat of sanctions
“The mere threat of sanctions was enough to bring both parties back to the negotiating table.”
noun + of + noun
07. violation of sanctions
“Any violation of sanctions will result in immediate legal action against the shipping company.”
noun + of + noun
Preposition
08. under sanction
“The nation has been under sanction for over a decade, leading to a significant decline in its infrastructure.”
prep + noun
09. sanctioned individuals
Real-World Examples
“Like France , the UK has also imposed sanctions on far-right Israeli cabinet members Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.” “If parliament imposes sanctions for failing to declare the gifts, Farage may be suspended from the House of Commons and potentially face a second byelection.” “If the Reform UK leader is found to have breached parliament's rules, it is possible that the sanctions could lead to a second by-election.” “Those sanctions have since been struck down by the US Supreme Court, but Trump has repeatedly introduced new tariffs using alternative legal levers to continue his signature policy.” Etymology
From Middle French sanction, from Latin sānctiō.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0