sanction
[noun]
Synonyms:
- permission, approval, authority, authorization, backing, O.K. or okay (informal), stamp or seal of approval
- often plural: ban, boycott, coercive measures, embargo, penalty
[verb]
Synonyms:
- permit, allow, approve, authorize, endorse

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Antonyms: interdiction, interdict
Contrasted words: restraint, debarment, interdict, prohibition, disapprobation, disapproval, objection, ban, disallow, forbid, prohibit
Related Words: approval, authorization, consent, permission, approbation, confirmation, encouragement, ratification, recommendation, support, authorize, commission, license

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English Thesaurus: allow, let, permit, give somebody permission, give your consent, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. sanc‧tion¹ /ˈsæŋkʃən/ noun
[Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin sanctio, from sancire; ⇒ saint]

1. sanctions [plural] official orders or laws stopping trade, communication etc with another country, as a way of forcing its leaders to make political changes ⇒ embargo
sanctions against
US sanctions against Cuba
a resolution to impose sanctions (=start using sanctions) on North Korea
the threat of trade sanctions
The UN Security Council may impose economic sanctions.
Any talk about lifting sanctions (=ending them) is premature.

2. [uncountable] formal official permission, approval, or acceptance Synonym : approval:
Apparently, the aide had acted without White House sanction.

3. [countable] formal a form of punishment that can be used if someone disobeys a rule or law Synonym : punishment:
the harshest possible sanction which could be imposed

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. sanction² verb [transitive] formal

1. to officially accept or allow something Synonym : approve:
The church refused to sanction the king’s second marriage.

2. be sanctioned by something to be made acceptable by something:
a barbaric custom, but one sanctioned by long usage

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

sanction
noun
I. official permission
ADJ. official | divine, religious
VERB + SANCTION give sb/sth The conference gave its official sanction to the change of policy.
PREP. with/without sb/sth's ~ No decision can be taken without the sanction of the complete committee.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

sanction
II. punishment
ADJ. heavy, severe, strict | final, ultimate | effective | limited | available The school will use all available sanctions to maintain discipline.
civil, criminal, disciplinary | legal, penal, social
VERB + SANCTION impose | use
PREP. ~ against There were strict sanctions against absenteeism.
~ for Employers imposed heavy sanctions for union activity.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

sanction
III. (usually sanctions) against a country
ADJ. punitive | international, UN | economic, financial, military, trade
VERB + SANCTION impose | lift | break Some companies have broken sanctions by supplying arms to the warring states.
call for
SANCTION + NOUN order The company is in breach of a sanctions order.
busting Several firms were under investigation for sanctions busting.
PREP. ~ against The UN called for sanctions against the invading country.
PHRASES the imposition of sanctions, the lifting of sanctions, a threat of sanctions

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

sanction
verb
ADV. officially | legally, socially Slavery was once socially sanctioned.
tacitly He had tacitly sanctioned repression against the opposition parties.
VERB + SANCTION refuse to

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

sanction

economic/trade sanctions
The United Nations is considering new economic sanctions.
international sanctions
International sanctions were imposed on Iraq after it invaded Kuwait in 1990.
tough/strict sanctions (=severe)
Due to strict sanctions, the country is unable to import the medicines it needs.
impose sanctions (=start using them)
The US imposed economic sanctions on Panama.
lift sanctions (=stop using them)
Washington has since refused to lift sanctions.
ease sanctions (=make them less strict)
The last administration decided to ease sanctions against Cuba.
enforce sanctions (=make sure they are obeyed)
The UN will have the job of enforcing the sanctions.
break/violate sanctions (=send something to another country when this is not allowed)
Several companies broke trade sanctions by continuing to export weapons to the country.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

allow to say that someone can do something – used about parents, teachers, or people in authority:
They don’t allow students to chew gum in the classroom.
I’m not allowed to stay out after ten o'clock.
let [not in passive] to allow someone to do something. Let is not used in the passive, and is much more commonly used in everyday English than allow:
Will your Mum let you come to the party?
I’ll borrow John’s bicycle, if he’ll let me.
permit formal if something is permitted, it is allowed according to the rules - used especially on written notices and announcements:
Smoking is not permitted anywhere in the building.
give somebody permission used when someone in an important official position decides to allow someone to do something:
He was given special permission to leave school early.
The Home Office has given him permission to stay in Britain indefinitely.
give your consent to say that you will allow someone to do something that will affect you personally, or a member of your family, when you have a legal right to say ‘no’:
Her parents have given their consent to the marriage.
You can’t build on someone’s land without the owner’s consent.
give something the go-ahead to officially allow a planned project or activity to happen:
The government finally gave the go-ahead for a new terminal at Heathrow airport.
A new nuclear plant has been given the go-ahead.
authorize to officially or legally allow someone to do something - used about laws or people:
The UN resolution would authorize the use of force.
I never authorized them to give information about me to other banks.
entitle to give someone the right to do or have something:
The pass entitles you to travel on any bus, at any time, in Norwich.
If the goods are faulty, the customer is entitled to a refund.
sanction formal to give official approval and support for something:
The Truman administration refused to sanction a military attack.
The advertisements were sanctioned by the candidate himself.
have a permit
Do you have a resident's parking permit?
need/require a permit
EU citizens no longer need a permit to work in the UK.
get a permit
You have to get a special permit in order to visit the Saiq plateau.
issue a permit
Up to ten fishing permits are issued each day.
obtain a permit (=more formal than 'get')
Hunters are required to obtain a permit.
apply for a permit
Farmers must apply for permits to use the new chemicals.
a work permit
She had problems getting a work permit for the States.
a parking permit
You’ll need to apply for a residential parking permit.
a travel permit
Palestinians have to obtain a travel permit for travel between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
a residence permit (also residency permit especially American English) (=one that allows you to live in a country)
Residence permits will be limited to five years.
an export permit
An export permit is required for the export of this timber.
a gun permit
More than 300,000 civilians, in a country of 6 million, have gun permits.
a fishing permit
To fish you’ll need a rod licence and a fishing permit.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲