embargo
im-BAR-goh
/ɪmˈbɑːrɡoʊ/
An official ban on trade or other commercial activity with a particular country.
A drastic diplomatic action that completely halts specific or all commercial exchanges, usually enforced by naval blockades or legal prohibitions.
The story behind the word. Borrowed from Spanish 'embargar', meaning 'to detain, impede, or restrain', coming from Vulgar Latin roots linked to 'barra' (bar). Historically, to place an embargo meant physically chaining or barring ships from leaving a port.
Word relationships
- trade ban: General descriptive phrase, whereas embargo is the official legal and diplomatic term.
- boycott: A boycott is usually a voluntary refusal by citizens or groups, whereas an embargo is an official state order.
- free trade: Unrestricted commerce between nations.
- trade opening: The removal of commercial restrictions.
Commonly confused with
- sanction: Sanction is a general term for penalties; an embargo is a specific penalty blocking trade and shipping.
Word family
- embargoed (adjective): Banned from trade or public release.
Collocations
- trade embargo
- arms embargo
- lift an embargo
- impose an embargo
Example sentences
- "The international coalition announced an oil embargo against the aggressor nation to limit its funding for the war." Economic Warfare
- "The press release was placed under a strict embargo until midnight." Journalism & Media
Memory hook
EMBARGO puts a BAR on CARGO. Putting a physical bar across trade cargo.
When not to use
Do not use for minor individual business disputes or standard selective import tariffs.
Fun facts
- In publishing and journalism, an 'embargo' prevents news outlets from publishing a story before a specified time.
Also appears in
- Business → Globalization & Trade
- Law → International Law & Treaties
- Political Science & Governance → State Sovereignty & Statecraft
- Media, Journalism & Publishing → News Reporting & Investigative Journalism
- Economic Theory & Analysis → International Trade & Tariffs
- Military Science & Warfare → Naval Warfare & Maritime Security
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