sanctioned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sanctioned" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where approval or permission is granted, or conversely, when referring to punitive measures against someone or something. Example: "The new policy was officially sanctioned by the board of directors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

It also added that when this still-classified information was published, the CIA did not, as a matter of policy, submit crime reports – highlighting a gulf between officially sanctioned leaks and non-sanctioned whistleblowing, the latter of which is often heavily prosecuted.

The Guardian

In response, Karimov launched a far-reaching crackdown on all forms of religious expression not expressly sanctioned by the state.

The Guardian

The governor of the Krasnodar region apologised for the actions of the Cossacks, who are being used as informal security at the Olympics, but the presence of many plainclothes security officers suggested their actions were sanctioned.

The Guardian - Music

The Independent Monitoring Commission today concluded that the UVF leadership had sanctioned the 44-year-old's murder.

The Guardian

This is clearly sanctioned, even driven by the country's leadership.

The Guardian

Lawyers have written to London's mayor threatening legal action after he sanctioned the construction of "unlawful" fences around the square, which campaigners claim are a deliberate attempt to stop them protesting peacefully.

The Guardian

Cases like this keep coming his way, he says: "They miss an appointment so their benefits are sanctioned [docked or stopped altogether], so they have no money, so they steal".

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Concern is mounting that British aid money may be funding programmes for police who are using rape as a tool of state-sanctioned torture against women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The Guardian

Carr said the preference would be for a UN-sanctioned action, but if that was not possible, "the sheer horror" of the attack mandated a response.

The Guardian

This colourful innovation can obviously be traced directly to the Packer incursion, but things didn't actually get off to a great in the first officially-sanctioned summer of one-day in Australia in 1979-80.

The Guardian - Sport

Everything is fucked," said Anton Krasovsky, a former state television presenter who was chief of staff to oligarch Mikhail Prokhorov when he ran against Putin as a Kremlin-sanctioned pseudo-opposition candidate in 2012.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always specify who is doing the sanctioning and what is being sanctioned to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "sanctioned" without clear context, as it can mean both 'approved' and 'penalized'. This ambiguity can confuse readers. Instead, clarify whether you mean 'officially approved' or 'subjected to sanctions'.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "sanctioned" is as a past participle or past tense verb. Ludwig indicates its use in contexts requiring either past action or passive voice, signifying approval, authorization, or the imposition of penalties.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sanctioned" is a versatile term with dual meanings: approved or penalized. Ludwig's analysis confirms that it is grammatically correct and frequently used, particularly in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. The potential ambiguity requires careful attention to context. Related terms include "authorized", "approved", and "penalized", each offering subtle differences in meaning. Remember to specify the sanctioning entity and the object being sanctioned for clarity. As Ludwig AI data displays, the usage is frequent and reliable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

authorized

Indicates formal permission or approval, similar to "sanctioned" but often lacks the implication of a pre-existing rule or law.

gave authorization

Highlights the act of granting permission, focusing on the process rather than the state of being sanctioned.

approved

Implies agreement or endorsement, often in a more general or informal context than "sanctioned".

gave approval

Underscores the act of providing consent or agreement, similar to "approved" but emphasizes the action of approving.

permitted

Suggests allowing something to occur without necessarily endorsing it, a weaker form of authorization than "sanctioned".

endorsed

Conveys strong support and approval, often implying active promotion, which is not always present in "sanctioned".

ratified

Implies formal validation or confirmation, especially of a treaty or agreement, a more specific context than "sanctioned".

penalized

Refers to the imposition of a penalty or punishment, representing the opposite connotation of approval found in "sanctioned".

punished

Suggests a more direct and often physical form of retribution, compared to the broader implications of "sanctioned" as a form of penalty.

disciplined

Implies correction or training, often in a controlled environment, a narrower scope than the punitive aspect of "sanctioned".

FAQs

How can "sanctioned" be used in a sentence?

"Sanctioned" can be used to indicate approval or permission, as in "The project was "officially approved" by the committee". It can also refer to penalties, as in "The country was "subjected to sanctions" for violating international law".

What are some alternatives to "sanctioned" when it means approved?

Alternatives to "sanctioned" when it means approved include "authorized", "approved", "permitted", and "endorsed". The best choice depends on the specific context.

What are some alternatives to "sanctioned" when it means penalized?

When "sanctioned" means penalized, you can use alternatives such as "penalized", "punished", "disciplined", or ""subjected to sanctions"".

Is "state-sanctioned" different from just "sanctioned"?

"State-sanctioned" specifically means approved or authorized by the government. While "sanctioned" can imply approval from any authority, "state-sanctioned" clarifies that the approval comes from the state. For example using an alternative phrase such as "government-approved" may bring additional clarity.