I. sanc ‧ tion 1 /ˈsæŋkʃ ə n/ BrE AmE noun
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: Latin sanctio , from sancire ; ⇨ ↑ saint ]
1 . sanctions [plural] official orders or laws stopping trade, communication etc with another country, as a way of forcing its leaders to make political changes ⇨ embargo
sanctions against
US sanctions against Cuba
a resolution to impose sanctions (=start using sanctions) on North Korea
the threat of trade sanctions
The UN Security Council may impose economic sanctions.
Any talk about lifting sanctions (=ending them) is premature.
2 . [uncountable] formal official permission, approval, or acceptance SYN approval :
Apparently, the aide had acted without White House sanction.
3 . [countable] formal a form of punishment that can be used if someone disobeys a rule or law SYN punishment :
the harshest possible sanction which could be imposed
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COLLOCATIONS
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + sanctions
▪ economic/trade sanctions
The United Nations is considering new economic sanctions.
▪ international sanctions
International 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.
■ verbs
▪ impose 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.
II. sanction 2 BrE AmE verb [transitive] formal
1 . to officially accept or allow something SYN approve :
The church refused to sanction the king’s second marriage.
2 . be sanctioned by something to be made acceptable by something:
a barbaric custom, but one sanctioned by long usage
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THESAURUS
▪ allow to say that someone can do something – used about parents, teachers, or people in authority:
They don’t allow students to chew gum in the classroom.
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I’m not allowed to stay out after ten o'clock.
▪ let [not in passive] to allow someone to do something. Let is not used in the passive, and is much more commonly used in everyday English than allow :
Will your Mum let you come to the party?
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I’ll borrow John’s bicycle, if he’ll let me.
▪ permit formal if something is permitted, it is allowed according to the rules - used especially on written notices and announcements:
Smoking is not permitted anywhere in the building.
▪ give somebody permission used when someone in an important official position decides to allow someone to do something:
He was given special permission to leave school early.
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The Home Office has given him permission to stay in Britain indefinitely.
▪ give your consent to say that you will allow someone to do something that will affect you personally, or a member of your family, when you have a legal right to say ‘no’:
Her parents have given their consent to the marriage.
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You can’t build on someone’s land without the owner’s consent.
▪ give something the go-ahead to officially allow a planned project or activity to happen:
The government finally gave the go-ahead for a new terminal at Heathrow airport.
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A new nuclear plant has been given the go-ahead.
▪ authorize to officially or legally allow someone to do something - used about laws or people:
The UN resolution would authorize the use of force.
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I never authorized them to give information about me to other banks.
▪ entitle to give someone the right to do or have something:
The pass entitles you to travel on any bus, at any time, in Norwich.
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If the goods are faulty, the customer is entitled to a refund.
▪ sanction formal to give official approval and support for something:
The Truman administration refused to sanction a military attack.
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The advertisements were sanctioned by the candidate himself.