sanctions
n. C / Un. official punishments or rules used by a government to stop another country from doing something wrong. These often involve stopping trade or making it hard for the country to move money.
n. measures taken by one or more nations to coerce another into complying with international law or norms. These typically involve economic restrictions, such as trade barriers or the freezing of assets.
The government decided to lift the economic sanctions.
International leaders met to discuss imposing stricter sanctions on the country to protest its recent human rights violations.
While some analysts argue that sanctions are an effective tool for non-military pressure, others point out that they often disproportionately affect the civilian population rather than the ruling elite.
Usually plural when referring to economic or political measures; the singular form often refers to official permission or approval in legal contexts.