sanction
authoritative permission or approval, as for an action.
something that serves to support an action, condition, etc.
something that gives binding force, as to an oath, rule of conduct, etc.
Law.
a provision of a law enacting a penalty for disobedience or a reward for obedience.
the penalty or reward.
International Law. action by one or more states toward another state calculated to force it to comply with legal obligations.
to authorize, approve, or allow: an expression now sanctioned by educated usage.
to ratify or confirm: to sanction a law.
to impose a sanction on; penalize, especially by way of discipline.
Origin of sanction
1Other words for sanction
Opposites for sanction
Other words from sanction
- sanc·tion·a·ble, adjective
- sanc·tion·a·tive, adjective
- sanc·tion·er, noun
- sanc·tion·less, adjective
- non·sanc·tion, noun
- re·sanc·tion, verb (used with object)
- su·per·sanc·tion, verb (used with object), noun
- un·sanc·tion·a·ble, adjective
- un·sanc·tion·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for sanction
/ (ˈsæŋkʃən) /
final permission; authorization
aid or encouragement
something, such as an ethical principle, that imparts binding force to a rule, oath, etc
the penalty laid down in a law for contravention of its provisions
(often plural) a coercive measure, esp one taken by one or more states against another guilty of violating international law
to give authority to; permit
to make authorized; confirm
Origin of sanction
1Derived forms of sanction
- sanctionable, adjective
- sanctioner, noun
- sanctionless, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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