economic sanctions
C1Formal, primarily used in political, academic, journalistic, and diplomatic contexts.
Definition
Meaning
Commercial and financial penalties imposed by one or more countries against a targeted country, group, or individual to coerce a change in policy or behaviour.
A foreign policy tool where economic restrictions—such as trade embargoes, asset freezes, or bans on financial transactions—are used as a non-military means of political pressure. They can be comprehensive (affecting an entire economy) or targeted/smart (aimed at specific entities or sectors).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Typically used in plural form. Implies an official, governmental action. The term often carries a connotation of seriousness and international dispute.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling conventions follow national norms (e.g., 'sanctions' vs. 'sanctions' is identical).
Connotations
Identical in both varieties.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in political discourse in both the UK and US.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Country/Organization] imposed economic sanctions on [Target].Economic sanctions were levied against [Target].[Target] is subject to economic sanctions.The sanctions aim to [Desired Outcome].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to bring someone to their knees with sanctions”
- “to turn the economic screws on”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in risk analysis and compliance: 'Our firm cannot operate there due to stringent economic sanctions.'
Academic
Used in political science and international relations: 'The efficacy of economic sanctions as a coercive tool is widely debated.'
Everyday
Used in news consumption: 'The government is considering new economic sanctions.'
Technical
Used in legal and financial compliance: 'OFAC administers and enforces US economic sanctions programs.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The allies agreed to sanction the regime economically.
- The minister advocated for sanctioning the oligarchs.
American English
- The administration moved to sanction the oil sector.
- Congress voted to sanction the country's central bank.
adverb
British English
- The goods were officially sanctioned, making trade impossible.
- They acted sanctionedly under the new UN resolution.
American English
- The assets were legally sanctioned and frozen.
- The company operated in a fully sanctioned manner to avoid penalties.
adjective
British English
- The sanctioned entities appealed to the courts.
- They faced a sanctioned list of prohibited goods.
American English
- Sanctioned individuals cannot access the banking system.
- The sanctioned technology was barred from export.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The news talked about economic sanctions.
- Many countries have economic sanctions against that government.
- The UN imposed economic sanctions in an attempt to stop the conflict.
- The efficacy of the targeted economic sanctions was undermined by widespread smuggling through neighbouring countries.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a country's ECONOMY being put under SANCTIONS (like a school sanction or punishment) to force it to behave.
Conceptual Metaphor
ECONOMIC PRESSURE IS A WEAPON (e.g., 'arming themselves with sanctions', 'a barrage of sanctions').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'экономические санкции' when the context is about domestic punitive fines or penalties for individuals; in English, 'sanctions' in this compound specifically refers to international state-level actions.
- Do not confuse with 'экономические штрафы' (economic fines).
Common Mistakes
- Using singular 'sanction' (this usually refers to official permission or approval).
- Using it to describe personal financial penalties.
- Misspelling as 'economical sanctions' (which would imply 'thrifty sanctions').
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of economic sanctions?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In modern political discourse, 'sanctions' almost always means 'economic sanctions'. However, 'sanctions' can theoretically include other punitive measures, while 'economic sanctions' is explicit.
Typically, national governments (unilaterally) or groups of nations/alliances (multilaterally). International bodies like the United Nations can also impose sanctions on member states.
An embargo is a specific type of sanction that is a complete ban on trade, often on specific goods (like arms). Economic sanctions is a broader term that includes embargoes as well as asset freezes, travel bans, and financial restrictions.
This is a major debate in political science. Their success is highly context-dependent. They can signal disapproval and impose costs but often fail to achieve major policy shifts, sometimes hardening the target's position or harming civilian populations.