The noun sanction, meaning "authoritative approval" or "a coercive measure," entered English in the 15th century, and originally referred to a formal decree or law, especially an ecclesiastical decree.
SANCTION definition: authoritative permission or approval, as for an action. See examples of sanction used in a sentence.
Many nations have imposed sanctions on the country because of its attacks on its own people. Trade/ economic sanctions will only be lifted (= stopped) when the aggressor nation withdraws its troops..
Sanction Look up sanction in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. A sanction may be either a permission or a restriction, depending upon context, as the word is an auto-antonym. Examples of sanctions include:
Feb 6, 2026 · A "sanction" can mean both approval and punishment, making it a unique and versatile word. Understanding its dual meanings is essential for using it correctly in legal, political, and.
A sanction is a severe course of action which is intended to make people obey instructions, customs, or laws. As an ultimate sanction, they can sell their shares.
SANCTION meaning: 1 : an action that is taken or an order that is given to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade with that country, by not allowing economic aid for that.
Definition of sanction noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. [countable, usually plural] sanction (against somebody) an official order that limits trade, contact, etc. with a particular country,.
Sanction has two nearly opposite meanings: to sanction can be to approve of something, but it can also mean to punish, or speak harshly to. Likewise, a sanction can be a punishment or approval.
