From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsanctionsanc‧tion1 /ˈsæŋkʃən/ ●○○ noun 1 → sanctions2 [uncountable] formalPGLET/ALLOW official permission, approval, or acceptance SYN approval Apparently, the aide had acted without White House sanction.3 [countable] formalSCC a form of punishment that can be used if someone disobeys a rule or law SYN punishment the harshest possible sanction which could be imposedCOLLOCATIONSADJECTIVES/NOUN + sanctions economic/trade sanctionsThe United Nations is considering new economic sanctions.international sanctionsInternational sanctions were imposed on Iraq after it invaded Kuwait in 1990.tough/strict sanctions (=severe)Due to strict sanctions, the country is unable to import the medicines it needs.verbsimpose sanctions (=start using them)The US imposed economic sanctions on Panama.lift sanctions (=stop using them)Washington has since refused to lift sanctions.ease sanctions (=make them less strict)The last administration decided to ease sanctions against Cuba.enforce sanctions (=make sure they are obeyed)The UN will have the job of enforcing the sanctions.break/violate sanctions (=send something to another country when this is not allowed)Several companies broke trade sanctions by continuing to export weapons to the country.
Examples from the Corpus
sanction• This confidence was given a democratic sanction in the referendum of 28 September 1958.• He acted without religious or government sanction.• Polanyi would propose a world environment organisation with the right to impose sanctions on countries that refuse to cut emissions.• Like informal sanctions, formal sanctions may be positive or negative.• Harrassment of ethnic or religious minorities would result in various international sanctions.• Mijic said his paper is facing an inner wall of sanctions, however.• Such sanctions are likely to make the child angry.• Britain said it was ready to lift the sanctions at once.• When I was there they were desperate for one and anxious that the sanctions should be lifted.sanctionsanction2 ●○○ verb [transitive] formal 1 LET/ALLOWto officially accept or allow something SYN approve The church refused to sanction the king’s second marriage.► see thesaurus at allow2 → be sanctioned by something→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
sanction• There can be no art movement of the last 200 years that he has failed to sanction.• Nevertheless, extreme vigilance and monitoring are still needed each time a new product is sanctioned for release into the environment.• Gambling will be not be sanctioned in any form.• Allowing them to make such a decision does not sanction it - far from it.• When used to sanction official disapproval of the Third Reich, this approach is unlikely to be controversial.• This judicial readiness to sanction rescue was revised in post-war years in the light of Bowlby's work on maternal deprivation.• Sefton council will consider whether to sanction the operation.• They gave away small parcels, and even sanctioned the right to buy and sell property in the 1993 constitution.• Rabin told the Knesset that while he had sanctioned the use of force, he had never given illegal orders.From Longman Business Dictionarysanctionsanc‧tion /ˈsæŋkʃən/ noun1sanctions [plural]ECONOMICS official orders or laws stopping trade, communication etc with another country as a way of forcing political changessanctions againstThe US imposed tough trade sanctions against Cuba.The UN security council unanimously refused to lift economic sanctions.2[countable]LAW a punishment for disobeying a rule or lawThe most severe sanction the panel could recommend is expulsion from the Senate.3[countable] official permission or approvalThe proposals are subject to the official sanction of the Council. —sanction verb [transitive]Shareholders must sanction donations to political parties before they are made.Origin sanction1 (1400-1500) Old French Latin sanctio, from sancire; → SAINT 