sanction
SANGK-shuhn
/ˈsæŋkʃən/
To give official permission or approval for an action; (as a noun, usually plural) a threatened penalty for disobeying a law.
Sanction is a famous 'contranym'—a word that can mean its own opposite. It can mean official approval (verb) or official punishment/restriction (noun). Context is critical.
The story behind the word. Sanction comes from the Latin 'sancire', which means 'to make sacred' or 'to bind by a decree'. In ancient Rome, a 'sanctio' was a law that was made sacred and binding. Because a sacred law had both a rule to follow (approval) and a punishment for breaking it (penalty), the word developed its dual meanings.
Word relationships
- authorize: Authorize means to give official permission, matching the positive meaning of sanction.
- penalty: Penalty matches the negative meaning of sanction, referring to a punishment for breaking a rule.
- prohibit: Prohibit means to formally forbid, the opposite of the positive meaning of sanction.
- reward: Reward is a positive return for good behavior, the opposite of a punitive sanction.
Commonly confused with
- sanctuary: Sanctuary is a place of safety or holiness, while sanction is official approval or punishment.
Word family
- sanctioning (noun): The act of giving official approval.
Collocations
- impose sanctions
- official sanction
- sanctioned event
Example sentences
- "The athletic association decided to sanction the new marathon route through the city center." An official body granting permission.
- "The United Nations voted to impose economic sanctions on the country to protest its human rights violations." International political penalties.
Memory hook
Think of a 'saint' who has the power to 'sanction' (approve) good deeds or 'sanction' (punish) bad ones. Sanction = Sacred law that approves or punishes.
When not to use
Avoid using sanction without clear context, as readers can easily confuse approval with punishment.
Fun facts
- Sanction is one of the most common contranyms in the English language, alongside words like 'cleave' and 'dust'.
Also appears in
- Business → Globalization & Trade
- Law → International Law & Treaties
- Political Science & Governance → Geopolitics & International Relations
- Political Science & Governance → State Sovereignty & Statecraft
- Economic Theory & Analysis → International Trade & Tariffs
- Education & Pedagogy → Discipline & Classroom Management
- Political Science & Governance → Diplomacy & Foreign Policy
- Sociology & Social Anthropology → Social Deviance & Conformity
- Sports, Athletics & Recreation → Professionalism vs Amateurism
- Student Life & Schooling → Academic Integrity & Cheating
- Sports, Athletics & Recreation → Refereeing & Officiating
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