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

Official approval or permission for an action.

"The project went ahead with the full sanction of the board."

A penalty imposed to enforce compliance, especially by one country against another.

"The UN imposed sanctions on the regime after the invasion."

verb

To officially approve or authorize.

"The council sanctioned the new building plans."

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 notes

In 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

Word forms

sanctioned past tense, sanctions plural, sanctions singular

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The project went ahead with the full _____ of the board.

Etymology

From Latin sanctio, related to sanctus ("holy" or "binding") — originally a solemn decree.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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ban boycott estoppel injunction interdiction embargo penalties proscription taboo

Antonyms

permission endorsement support confirmation allowance backing

Related words

help support service post bit evidence hold base

Rhymes for sanction

region ablation allusion emulsion ideation novation abortion abrasion diffusion elocution extension oxidation

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.

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