sanction

UK: /ˈsæŋkʃ^ən/ US: /ˈsæŋkʃən/ ,(sangk′shən)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

sanc•tion /ˈsæŋkʃən/   n. 

1. official approval from an authority:
   [uncountable] withheld official sanction for these acts.
2. [countable] something that gives binding force, as to an oath.
3. Law action by a state to force another state to follow rules, etc.:
   [countable] to impose sanctions against that country.

v. [~ + object]

4. to allow officially:
   No one will sanction such actions.
5. to penalize by sanction:
   sanctioning the country because of its invasion of a peaceful neighbor.

See -sanct-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

sanc•tion  (sangk′shən), n. 

1. authoritative permission or approval, as for an action.
2. something that serves to support an action, condition, etc.
3. something that gives binding force, as to an oath, rule of conduct, etc.
4. Law
   • a provision of a law enacting a penalty for disobedience or a reward for obedience.
   • the penalty or reward.
5. Law [Internat. Law.] action by one or more states toward another state calculated to force it to comply with legal obligations.

v.t. 

6. to authorize, approve, or allow:
   an expression now sanctioned by educated usage.
7. to ratify or confirm:
   to sanction a law.
8. to impose a sanction on;
   penalize, esp. by way of discipline.

• Latin sānctiōn- (stem of sānctiō), equivalent. to sānct(us) (past participle of sancīre to prescribe by law) + -iōn- -ion
• 1555–65

sanc′tion•a•ble, adj. 
sanc′tion•a′tive, adj. 
sanc′tion•er, n. 
sanc′tion•less, adj. 
Synonyms

• 6. permit.

Antonyms

• 1. disapproval.
• 6. disapprove.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

sanction / ˈsæŋkʃən/ noun

1. final permission; authorization
2. aid or encouragement
3. something, such as an ethical principle, that imparts binding force to a rule, oath, etc
4. the penalty laid down in a law for contravention of its provisions
5. (often plural) a coercive measure, esp one taken by one or more states against another guilty of violating international law

verb (transitive)

1. to give authority to; permit

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin sanctiō the establishment of an inviolable decree, from sancīre to decree