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embargo

em-BAR-goh /ɪmˈbɑːrɡoʊ/

nounverbC1GRETOEFLIELTS

formallegalpolitical

An official ban on trade or other commercial activity with a particular country.

A legal and political measure, often used as a form of economic sanction. Can also be a verb, 'to embargo.'

The story behind the word. The word 'embargo' comes from the Spanish 'embargar,' meaning 'to impede, to arrest, to seize.' This Spanish verb is formed from 'en-' (in) and 'barra' (bar), literally meaning 'to put a bar on.' So, when an embargo is imposed, it's like putting a legal 'bar' on trade, preventing goods from moving in or out.

Word relationships

ban: A general prohibition.
prohibition: The action of forbidding something by law.
sanction: A threatened penalty for disobeying a law or rule, often economic measures.

free trade: International trade left to its natural course without tariffs, quotas, or other restrictions.
open commerce: Unrestricted commercial activity.

Commonly confused with

blockade: An 'embargo' is a legal prohibition on trade. A 'blockade' is a physical prevention of entry/exit, often military.

Collocations

arms embargo
trade embargo
impose an embargo
lift an embargo
oil embargo

Example sentences

"The international community imposed an embargo on arms sales to the conflict-ridden nation, hoping to de-escalate the violence." Discussing international sanctions.
"Many countries chose to embargo oil shipments to the regime in protest of its human rights abuses." Using as a verb.

Memory hook

An EMBARGO puts a BAR on trade. Bar on trade

When not to use

Do not confuse with 'blockade,' which is a physical prevention of entry/exit, often military.

Fun facts

The longest-running embargo in modern history is the United States' embargo against Cuba, which began in the early 1960s.