sanction
Translation
penalty, permission, approval
Examples
The UN imposed economic sanctions on the country.
The UN imposed economic sanctions on the country.
The project has the official sanction of the committee.
The project has the official sanction of the committee.
Grammar Patterns
((sanctions)) against sb./sth. a penalty imposed on sb./sth. The UN imposed sanctions against the country.
Similar Words
Synonyms (penalty): penalty, punishment; Synonyms (approval): approval, permission; Antonyms (approval): ban, prohibition
Etymology
From Latin 'sanctio' (a decree), from 'sancire' (to make sacred, ratify). The root 'sanct-' means 'holy'.
Memory Tips
Think of a 'holy' (sanct-) decree that can either punish (sanctions) or approve (sanction). It has two opposite meanings.