sanction
B2-C1Formal, Legal, Political, Academic, News
Definition
Meaning
An official permission or approval, OR a punitive measure against a country or organization.
It can also mean a threatened penalty for disobeying a law or rule, or (archaic) a law or decree, especially an ecclesiastical one.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This is a classic auto-antonym (contronym). The meaning is entirely dependent on context: it can mean 'to approve' (positive) or 'to penalize' (negative). The noun follows the same pattern.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major difference in definition. Usage is identical in formal contexts. The 'permission' sense may be slightly more frequent in British legal/ecclesiastical history.
Connotations
Identical strong political/legal connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in political/news discourse in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
sanction [someone/something] (verb, positive sense)sanction [someone/something] (verb, negative sense)impose sanctions [on/against someone/something]lift sanctions [on/against someone/something]give sanction [to something]receive sanction [for something]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “With the sanction of the law”
- “Moral sanction”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to official approval for a project or punitive trade restrictions.
Academic
Used in political science, international relations, and law to discuss state behaviour and international law.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Mostly encountered in news about politics.
Technical
In law: official permission or confirmation. In international relations: a coercive measure.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The committee refused to sanction the expenditure.
- The government is expected to sanction the offending companies.
American English
- The board sanctioned the new policy unanimously.
- The US moved to sanction the regime for human rights abuses.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The country faces new sanctions from the United Nations.
- The school gave its sanction for the student trip.
- The international community agreed to impose severe economic sanctions.
- The action was taken without the official sanction of the governing body.
- The paradox of 'sanction' lies in its ability to mean both authorized approval and punitive restriction, often within the same diplomatic discourse.
- The regulator's sanction of the merger was contingent upon several anti-competitive remedies.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a coin: HEADS = permission (Heads of state give sanction), TAILS = penalty (Tails you lose - a punishment).
Conceptual Metaphor
AUTHORITY IS A LEVER (to lift or impose sanctions). PERMISSION IS A KEY (to sanction an action).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with Russian "санкция", which is almost exclusively used in the negative 'punitive measure' sense. The positive 'approval' sense of the English word is a major false friend.
Common Mistakes
- Using it ambiguously without context: 'The council will sanction the behaviour' (unclear if they approve or penalise it).
- Assuming it only means 'punishment'.
- Using it as a direct translation for Russian 'санкция' without considering context.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence does 'sanction' mean 'to give official permission'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can mean either, depending on context. This makes it a contronym. In news/politics, the 'punishment' sense (e.g., economic sanctions) is more common today. The 'permission' sense is common in legal/official contexts.
Look at the subject and object. If the subject is an authority (like a government) and the object is a negative action (like human rights abuses), it likely means 'to penalize'. If the subject is an authority and the object is a neutral/positive action (like a plan or budget), it likely means 'to approve'.
Yes, it is primarily used in formal, legal, political, and academic registers. It is uncommon in casual, everyday conversation.
Many learners, especially those whose language (like Russian) has borrowed the word primarily in its negative sense, are unaware of the positive 'approval' meaning, leading to significant misunderstanding.
Collections
Part of a collection
Global Issues
B2 · 47 words · Vocabulary for discussing world problems and politics.
Law and Regulation
C1 · 46 words · Legal language and regulatory frameworks.