sanction
noun /ˈsæŋkʃn/
  /ˈsæŋkʃn/
- [countable, usually plural] sanction (against somebody) an official order that limits trade, contact, etc. with a particular country, in order to make it do something, such as obeying international law
- Trade sanctions were imposed against any country that refused to sign the agreement.
 - The economic sanctions have been lifted.
 
Wordfinder- boom
 - business
 - commerce
 - embargo
 - import
 - market
 - monopoly
 - sanction
 - tariff
 - trade
 
Collocations International relationsInternational relationsTrade- facilitate/regulate trade (with other countries)
 - form/join a trading bloc
 - live in/compete in a global/the world economy
 - support/promote free trade
 - adopt/call for/oppose protectionist measures
 - erect/impose/reduce/remove trade barriers
 - impose/lift/raise/eliminate import tariffs (on something)
 - have/run a huge/large/growing trade surplus/deficit
 - embrace/resist/drive globalization
 
- conduct/handle/talk about/discuss foreign policy
 - pursue an aggressive/a hawkish foreign policy
 - require/use/conduct diplomacy
 - establish/break off/sever/restore diplomatic relations
 - foster/promote/strengthen regional cooperation
 - facilitate/achieve economic/political integration
 - exercise/defend/protect/transfer/restore/regain national/state/full/limited sovereignty
 - consolidate/extend/lose/retain your power (in the region)
 - hold/maintain/change/alter/shift/be a shift in the balance of power (in the region)
 - cause/create/open/expose/heal/repair a deep/growing/major/serious rift between X and Y
 
- have/hold/host/attend an international conference/an economic forum/a G20 summit
 - launch a new round of global/multilateral/world trade negotiations
 - send/head/lead/meet a high-level/an official/a trade delegation
 - begin/start/continue/resume peace talks
 - be committed to/be opposed to/disrupt/undermine/derail/sabotage the peace process
 - negotiate/achieve a lasting political settlement
 - broker/sign a peace deal/agreement/treaty
 
- be/constitute/pose a threat to global security
 - compromise/endanger/protect national security
 - justify/be in favour of/ (US English) be in favor of/be against military intervention
 - threaten/authorize/launch/take/support/oppose unilateral/pre-emptive military action
 - impose/enforce/lift/end economic sanctions/an arms embargo/a naval blockade
 - close/protect/secure/patrol the border
 - lead/be involved in a peacekeeping operation
 
- negotiate/announce a $15 billion aid package/an economic stimulus package
 - send/provide/request/cut off military aid
 - bring/provide emergency/humanitarian relief
 - deliver/distribute medical supplies/(British English) food parcels/(North American English)food packages
 - fund/run a foreign/a local/an international NGO
 - reduce/eradicate child/global/world poverty
 
Extra Examples- Some companies have broken sanctions by supplying arms to the warring states.
 - The UN called for sanctions against the invading country.
 - The company is in breach of a sanctions order.
 - There were calls for the imposition of sanctions.
 
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- economic
 - financial
 - military
 - …
 
- apply
 - enforce
 - impose
 - …
 
- sanction against
 - sanction for
 
- the imposition of sanctions
 - the lifting of sanctions
 - a threat of sanctions
 - …
 
 - [uncountable] (formal) official permission or approval for an action or a change synonym authorization
- These changes will require the sanction of the court.
 - Their ideas received official sanction at the meeting.
 
Extra ExamplesTopics Law and justicec2- No decision can be taken without the sanction of the committee.
 - The conference gave its official sanction to the change of policy.
 - The movement was first given official sanction in the 1960s.
 - No parliamentary sanction is needed for the Treasury to borrow money.
 - Such a step could not be taken without his sanction.
 
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- government
 - official
 - divine
 - …
 
- give something
 
- with somebody/something’s sanction
 - without somebody/something’s sanction
 
 - [countable] sanction (against something) a course of action that can be used, if necessary, to make people obey a law or behave in a particular way synonym penalty
- The ultimate sanction will be the closure of the restaurant.
 - We now have an effective sanction against the killing of whales.
 
Extra ExamplesTopics Crime and punishmentc1- The school will use all available sanctions to maintain discipline.
 - There were strict sanctions against absenteeism.
 
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- economic
 - financial
 - military
 - …
 
- apply
 - enforce
 - impose
 - …
 
- sanction against
 - sanction for
 
- the imposition of sanctions
 - the lifting of sanctions
 - a threat of sanctions
 - …
 
 
Word Originlate Middle English (as a noun denoting an ecclesiastical decree): from French, from Latin sanctio(n-), from sancire ‘ratify’. The verb dates from the late 18th cent.