Sanction

//ˈsæŋkʃən// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    An approval, by an authority, generally one that makes something valid. countable, uncountable

    "The whalers had been operating in the contested waters off the island with sanction from the Japanese government."

  2. 2
    a mechanism of social control for enforcing a society's standards wordnet
  3. 3
    A penalty, punishment, or some coercive measure, intended to ensure compliance; especially one adopted by several nations, or by an international body. countable, in-plural, uncountable

    "The United States enacted a new round of sanctions against the apartheid regime of South Africa."

  4. 4
    the act of final authorization wordnet
  5. 5
    A law, treaty, or contract, or a clause within a law, treaty, or contract, specifying any of the above. countable, uncountable
Show 2 more definitions
  1. 6
    official permission or approval wordnet
  2. 7
    formal and explicit approval wordnet
Verb
  1. 1
    To ratify; to make valid. transitive
  2. 2
    give sanction to wordnet
  3. 3
    To give official authorization or approval to; to countenance. transitive

    "The school's inaction further sanctions this misbehavior."

  4. 4
    give religious sanction to, such as through an oath wordnet
  5. 5
    To penalize (a state etc.) with sanctions. transitive

    "The generative AI chatbot, ChatGPT, can be duped into providing detailed advice on how to commit crimes — ranging from money laundering to the export of weapons to sanctioned countries — a tech startup found."

Show 1 more definition
  1. 6
    give authority or permission to wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle French sanction, from Latin sānctiō.

Etymology 2

From Middle French sanction, from Latin sānctiō.

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