sanctioning

USAGE SUMMARY

'sanctioning' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to refer to the act of allowing or authorizing an action, or to the act of imposing a penalty or punishment. Example sentence: "The college board is sanctioning a new rule allowing students to choose their own coursework."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The select committee heard sharp criticism of the chancellor, George Osborne, from a leading thinktank for sanctioning huge tax giveaways that forced the government to impose deeper than expected cuts on vital welfare budgets and Whitehall spending.

The Guardian - Money

Waza is accused of sanctioning a private deal involving the fishermen who herd and slaughter the dolphins and the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums (Jaza), which is an associate Waza member.

The Guardian

Neither side seems to understand the circumstances and the knock-on implications of sanctioning.

The Guardian

Iain Duncan Smith has denied setting staff targets for sanctioning benefits claimants; but this paper has found evidence, not only of targets but even league tables for job centres to compete against each other in keeping claimants away from their money.

The Guardian - Opinion

They must also accommodate Wahhabist clerics who expect rewards for sanctioning absolute monarchy, technocrats who actually manage the country and even, sometimes, those of their subjects who grow restive, and demand a voice beyond presenting personal petitions at royal receptions.In a smaller country this all might be dismissed as quaintly droll.

The Economist

The Fijian army has already gone too far in scrapping democracy and thereby sanctioning the rebels' efforts to strip the Indians of their rights.

The Economist

Yet this is unlikely to prevent the bank's monetary-policy committee from sanctioning further "quantitative easing".

The Economist

That would put judges in the position of sanctioning unconstitutional behaviour, civil libertarians fret.The loudest objections are to what is not in the bill: parliamentary oversight of the security services.

The Economist

His chosen issue is the extension of emergency "anti-terror" measures sanctioning the refuelling of ships in the Indian Ocean as part of the campaign in Afghanistan.

The Economist

By writing that note I will be implicitly sanctioning the killing of the animal by another student.

The Economist

Now they are under much greater pressure to break even, which is exerting a long-overdue financial discipline on poorly performing trusts.That said, ministers have created a rod for the NHS's back by sanctioning excessively generous pay deals.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "sanctioning", ensure the context clearly indicates whether you mean approving or penalizing, as the word has both meanings. Using stronger synonyms can avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Be aware that "sanctioning" can mean both 'approving' and 'penalizing'. Ensure your sentence provides enough context to clarify your intended meaning and avoid confusion for your readers.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "sanctioning" is as a verb, typically in its present participle form. As Ludwig AI also points out, it can denote either approving or penalizing something. Examples from Ludwig show it modifying nouns to indicate the act of authorizing or imposing penalties.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Reference

6%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sanctioning" is a versatile verb with dual meanings: approving or penalizing. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is considered grammatically correct and is commonly used across diverse contexts such as News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business settings. Due to its ambiguous nature, it's crucial to provide enough context to prevent misinterpretation. Alternatives such as "authorizing" or "penalizing" can be used for clarity. The phrase sees frequent use in authoritative sources like The Economist and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

authorizing

Focuses on granting permission or legal right.

permitting

Highlights allowing something to happen without necessarily endorsing it.

endorsing

Implies active support and approval.

approving

Suggests formally agreeing to a proposal or action.

ratifying

Emphasizes formal validation or confirmation.

validating

Focuses on confirming the legitimacy or correctness of something.

condoning

Implies accepting behavior that might be considered wrong.

penalizing

Focuses on imposing a penalty for wrongdoing.

punishing

Highlights the act of inflicting a penalty or suffering.

imposing sanctions

Specifically refers to the act of applying economic or political penalties.

FAQs

How can I use "sanctioning" in a sentence?

You can use "sanctioning" to mean either approving something, as in "The council is sanctioning the new construction project", or imposing a penalty, as in "The government is sanctioning the company for environmental violations".

What are some alternatives to "sanctioning"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "authorizing", "permitting", or "penalizing".

Which is correct, "sanctioning" or "imposing sanctions"?

"Sanctioning" is a verb that can refer to the act of imposing sanctions. "Imposing sanctions" is a more explicit phrase, especially when referring to penalties. You can use them interchangeably depending on the clarity you require.

What's the difference between "sanctioning" and "endorsing"?

"Sanctioning" can mean either approving or penalizing, whereas "endorsing" specifically means to give approval or support.