sanction

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'sanction' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to an action taken by a government or international organization to enforce international law or express disapproval or to express agreement or authorization. For example: "The United Nations introduced a series of economic sanctions against the country in response to its military aggression."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Secondly, for users who do breach the company's terms of service, a new tier of sanction has been introduced.

The Guardian - Tech

He said the pontiff's decision to refer to the mass killing of Armenians along with crimes perpetrated by Nazism and Stalinism gave the Vatican's "highest sanction" to genocide recognition.

The Guardian

While some have questioned whether Bale is too young to move abroad at this stage, Coleman has no reservations the forward will be able to handle life on and off the field at Real Madrid if Tottenham sanction his departure.

The Guardian - Sport

Or, of course, he could have used the one sanction that parents from time immemorial have employed to make activities less appealing to their children: he could have joined the game himself.

The Guardian - Opinion

Citizens Advice has been highly critical of prolonged sanctioning of jobseeker's allowance claimants, especially after the minimum sanction period was increased from one week to four in October 2012.

The Guardian

By supporting high speed rail wholeheartedly, the Tories have thrown the gauntlet down to Labour which has dithered over this issue, refusing even to sanction a detailed study of the possible costs and benefits despite a manifesto commitment to that effect.

The Guardian - Opinion

"The relevancy of the death penalty in our criminal justice system is seriously in question when 43 out of our 50 states do not apply the ultimate sanction," said Richard Dieter, the center's executive director and author of the report.

The Guardian

This self-stewardship was successful enough for long enough for the collective to eventually obtain quasi-official sanction from the municipal administration.

The Guardian

The US did sanction several North Korean individuals in retaliation for the Sony hack, but they were not targeted specifically for their role in that incident.

The Guardian - Tech

If claimants demonstrate that they can't buy essential items as a result of their sanction, they can apply for a hardship payment".

The Guardian

Sexual abuse of children was found to be "chronically undisclosed and under-reported", and in some remote communities "traditional beliefs and values are sometimes invoked to justify and sanction sexual contact between adult men and underage girls".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the subject imposing the "sanction" and the target of the "sanction" are clearly identified in your writing to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "sanction" when you mean "censure". "Sanction" implies a formal penalty or approval, whereas "censure" means to express strong disapproval.

Linguistic Context

The word "sanction" functions as both a noun, referring to a penalty or form of authorization, and a verb, meaning to impose a penalty or give official approval. Ludwig AI affirms its correct and versatile usage in written English, as evidenced by numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Sport

17%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Opinion

12%

Tech

10%

Society

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sanction" is a versatile term that can function as both a noun and a verb, denoting either authorization or penalty. Ludwig AI confirms its broad applicability and correctness in written English. Predominantly found in contexts related to news, media, sports, and formal business, its register tends towards neutral to formal. When using "sanction", ensure clarity regarding whether you are referring to approval or punishment and specify the type of "sanction" to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "authorize", "approve", and "penalize" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. It's important not to confuse "sanction" with "censure", which indicates disapproval rather than formal penalty or approval.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

authorize

Focuses on the act of giving permission or approval.

approve

Highlights agreement or endorsement.

penalize

Highlights the imposition of a penalty for wrongdoing.

endorse

Implies public support or recommendation.

punish

Focuses on inflicting a consequence for an offense.

permit

Emphasizes allowing something to happen.

discipline

Implies correcting or controlling behavior.

ratify

Suggests formal confirmation or validation.

imposition of penalties

Emphasizes the formal application of punishments.

enforce restrictions

Highlights the act of making sure rules are followed.

FAQs

How to use "sanction" in a sentence?

"Sanction" can be used as a noun, referring to a penalty or approval, or as a verb, meaning to authorize or penalize. For example: "The UN imposed economic sanctions" or "The school does not sanction bullying".

What can I say instead of "sanction"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "authorize", "approve", "penalize", or "punish".

Which is correct, "sanction" or "permission"?

Both "sanction" and "permission" imply allowance, but "sanction" often carries a formal or authoritative connotation, whereas "permission" is a more general term for allowing something.

What's the difference between "sanction" and "authorize"?

"Authorize" generally means to give permission or approval, while "sanction" can mean both to authorize and to penalize. Therefore, "sanction" has a dual meaning that "authorize" lacks.