sanction
What does "sanction" mean?
The word "sanction" is unique because it holds two contradictory meanings. It can mean to give official permission or approval for something, or it can mean to impose a penalty, such as a trade embargo or legal restriction, to force compliance. Think of it as the ultimate exercise of authority: you are either opening the gate with a blessing or slamming it shut as a punishment. In formal and political contexts, you will most often see it used in the sense of "imposing sanctions." When used to mean approval, it often appears in legal or institutional settings, such as "official sanction." Because of this dual meaning, context is everything; always look for clues like "approved" versus "imposed" to determine whether the subject is being rewarded or punished.
"sanction" in conversation
International Relations
The UN decided to impose a new trade sanction on the regime.
The UN decided to impose a new trade sanction on the regime.
Will that actually change their behavior, or just hurt the citizens?
Will that actually change their behavior, or just hurt the citizens?
Here, 'sanction' refers to a restrictive measure or penalty.
Corporate Approval
Did the board give their sanction to the merger yet?
Did the board give their sanction to the merger yet?
Yes, they signed off on it this morning.
Yes, they signed off on it this morning.
In this context, 'sanction' implies formal approval or endorsement.
"sanction" in a sentence
The school board will sanction the new after-school program.
The school board will sanction the new after-school program.
Several countries imposed economic sanctions to protest the violation of human rights.
Several countries imposed economic sanctions to protest the violation of human rights.
The committee refused to sanction the proposed experiment without further ethical review.
The committee refused to sanction the proposed experiment without further ethical review.
