embargo
em-BAR-goh
/ɪmˈbɑːr.ɡoʊ/
An official ban on trade or commercial activity with a particular country.
Represents an absolute prohibition of trade or shipping, making it a far stronger foreign policy tool than a tariff or quota.
The story behind the word. Embargo entered English directly from Spanish 'embargar', originating from Vulgar Latin roots meaning to bar or impede. It originally referred to a sovereign government seizing foreign merchant vessels in port to prevent them from setting sail.
Word relationships
- sanction: Sanction is a general term for penalties, while embargo specifically refers to a complete prohibition of foreign shipping or trade.
- liberalization: Liberalization opens trade channels, whereas an embargo completely shuts them down.
Commonly confused with
- sanction: Sanctions can include partial financial freezes, while an embargo is a blanket ban on goods or merchant shipping.
Word family
- embargoed (verb): Placed under an official trade ban
- embargoes (noun): Plural form of embargo
Collocations
- trade embargo
- impose an embargo
- lift an embargo
- arms embargo
Example sentences
- "The United Nations voted to enforce an arms embargo against the rogue government." International relations
- "The 1973 oil embargo led to severe petroleum shortages across Western nations." Historical event
Memory hook
EMBARgo puts a BAR on CARgo. Complete trade ban.
When not to use
Do not use to describe routine customs delays or minor safety inspections.
Fun facts
- In journalism, an 'embargo' refers to a strict prohibition on publishing news before a designated release time.
Related words
Also appears in
- Business → Globalization & Trade
- Law → International Law & Treaties
- Political Science & Governance → State Sovereignty & Statecraft
- Media, Journalism & Publishing → News Reporting & Investigative Journalism
- Military Science & Warfare → Naval Warfare & Maritime Security
- Political Science & Governance → Diplomacy & Foreign Policy
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