Pronunciation: /ˈsæŋkʃən/

Definitions of sanction

noun official permission or approval for an action

Example Sentences

A1 The teacher gave her students a sanction for not completing their homework.

A2 The company faced sanctions for violating environmental regulations.

B1 The government imposed economic sanctions on the country for its human rights abuses.

B2 The United Nations Security Council voted to lift sanctions on the country after it complied with disarmament agreements.

C1 The board of directors decided to impose sanctions on the CEO for unethical behavior.

C2 The international community debated the effectiveness of sanctions as a tool for promoting political change.

verb to penalize or discipline for disobeying a law or rule

Example Sentences

A1 The teacher sanctioned the students for talking during the exam.

A2 The company sanctioned the employee for violating company policy.

B1 The government sanctioned the new law to regulate the use of plastic bags.

B2 The board of directors sanctioned the merger between the two companies.

C1 The United Nations sanctioned the use of military force in response to the conflict.

C2 The president has the authority to sanction trade agreements with other countries.

Examples of sanction in a Sentence

formal The government decided to impose economic sanctions on the country.

informal If you don't follow the rules, you might face sanctions.

slang I heard they're gonna put sanctions on that shady business.

figurative Her silence was a sanction of approval for the plan.

Grammatical Forms of sanction

past tense

sanctioned

plural

sanctions

comparative

more sanctioned

superlative

most sanctioned

present tense

sanctions

future tense

will sanction

perfect tense

have sanctioned

continuous tense

are sanctioning

singular

sanction

positive degree

sanction

infinitive

to sanction

gerund

sanctioning

participle

sanctioned

Origin and Evolution of sanction

First Known Use: 0015 year
Language of Origin: Latin
Story behind the word: The word 'sanction' originated from the Latin word 'sanctio' meaning a decree or authoritative action.
Evolution of the word: Originally used to refer to a decree or authoritative action, the meaning of 'sanction' has evolved over time to also include the idea of approval, permission, or a penalty imposed for disobedience.