WordLens

sanction

1 of 2verb
/ˈsæŋkʃən/
Forms:sanctions,sanctioning,sanctioned,sanctioned
1

to officially approve of something such as an action, change, practice, etc.

transitive
  • The city council decided to sanction the music festival, granting official permission for its organization in the park.
  • The bank manager had the authority to sanction large financial transactions after a thorough review.
  • The university's research committee agreed to sanction funding for the innovative scientific project.
  • The president decided to sanction the military operation, giving official approval for the mission.
  • The government decided to sanction the trade agreement between the two countries, providing official authorization for the deal.
2

to officially approve or validate a proposal or agreement

transitive
  • The board of directors sanctioned the new company policy, making it official and enforceable .
  • The government sanctioned the treaty, solidifying the agreement between the two nations.
  • The court sanctioned the divorce settlement, finalizing the division of assets between the former spouses.
  • The board of examiners sanctioned the results of the certification exam.
  • The committee sanctioned the budget proposal, allocating funds for various initiatives and projects.
Antonyms:
3

to impose a penalty or punitive measure upon an individual, entity, or action

transitive
  • The court sanctioned the corporation for environmental violations.
  • The disciplinary committee sanctioned the student for plagiarism.
  • The international community sanctioned the country, implementing trade embargoes and diplomatic sanctions.
  • The regulatory agency sanctioned the financial institution, revoking its license to operate.
  • The government sanctioned the company for tax evasion, imposing penalties and seizing assets to recover the owed taxes.