sanction

A punishment or restriction used to make a person, organization, or country obey rules.

• The company faces a financial sanction.
• Several countries imposed sanctions on the government.
• The council lifted the sanctions after talks.

How to use it: sanction against someone/something (The government announced new sanctions against the company.)

Similar words: penalty, punishment

Common phrases: economic sanction, impose a sanction, trade sanction

Official permission from someone with authority.

• The plan needs official sanction.
• They acted without the council’s sanction.
• The project received royal sanction last year.

How to use it: sanction for something (We need official sanction for the proposed changes.)

Similar words: approval, authorization, permission

Opposites: disapproval

Common phrases: official sanction, government sanction, with sanction

To punish a person, organization, or country, often by limiting what they can do or trade.

• The league sanctioned the club.
• The government sanctioned banks involved in illegal trade.
• Officials may be sanctioned for breaking the rules.

How to use it: sanction someone for something/doing something (The association sanctioned him for breaking its rules.)

Similar words: penalize, punish

Common phrases: sanction a country, sanction someone for something

To give official permission for something.

• The council sanctioned the project.
• Who can sanction these changes?
• The court has sanctioned the sale.

Similar words: approve, authorize

Opposites: forbid, prohibit

Common phrases: sanction a plan, sanction something officially