noun
Uncommon
sanction
SANGK-shuhn
Sanction (noun) means Official approval or permission for an action. Example: “The project went ahead with the full sanction of the board.”
noun
1
Official approval or permission for an action.
"The project went ahead with the full sanction of the board."
2
A penalty imposed to enforce compliance, especially by one country against another.
"The UN imposed sanctions on the regime after the invasion."
verb
1
To officially approve or authorize.
"The council sanctioned the new building plans."
2
To penalize, especially a country or organization, in order to force compliance.
"Several nations sanctioned the company for its role in the scandal."
How to use sanction
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishConfusingly, this word can mean either "approve" or "punish" — the meaning depends entirely on context.
Common mistake
A rare case where the noun and verb senses point in almost opposite directions: "to sanction" someone usually means to punish them, while "a sanction" as approval is the older, more formal sense.
Common pairings
impose sanctions
economic sanctions
official sanction
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Word forms
- Plural
- sanctions
- Third person singular
- sanctions
- Past tense
- sanctioned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The project went ahead with the full _____ of the board.
Etymology
From Latin sanctio, related to sanctus ("holy" or "binding") — originally a solemn decree.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for sanction
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for sanction →
Frequently asked questions
What does “sanction” mean?
The word “sanction” means official approval or permission for an action. In plain terms, confusingly, this word can mean either "approve" or "punish" — the meaning depends entirely on context.
How do you pronounce “sanction”?
“Sanction” is pronounced SANGK-shuhn (/ˈseɪ̯ŋkʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “sanction” in a sentence?
Here is “sanction” used in a sentence: “The project went ahead with the full sanction of the board.”
What is another word for “sanction”?
Words with a similar meaning to “sanction” include ban, boycott, estoppel, injunction, interdiction and embargo.
What is the opposite of “sanction”?
The opposite of “sanction” — its antonyms — are permission, endorsement, support, confirmation and allowance.
What part of speech is “sanction”?
Depending on how it is used, “sanction” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “sanction” come from?
The word “sanction” comes from Latin. From Latin sanctio, related to sanctus ("holy" or "binding") — originally a solemn decree.
Is “sanction” a common word?
“Sanction” is an uncommon word in modern English.
