- [countable, usually plural] sanction (against somebody) an official order that limits trade, contact, etc. with a particular country, in order to make it do something, such as obeying international law
- Trade sanctions were imposed against any country that refused to sign the agreement.
- The economic sanctions have been lifted.
Collocations International relationsInternational relationsTrade- facilitate/regulate trade (with other countries)
- form/join a trading bloc
- live in/compete in a global/the world economy
- support/promote free trade
- adopt/call for/oppose protectionist measures
- erect/impose/reduce/remove trade barriers
- impose/lift/raise/eliminate import tariffs (on something)
- have/run a huge/large/growing trade surplus/deficit
- embrace/resist/drive globalization
- conduct/handle/talk about/discuss foreign policy
- pursue an aggressive/a hawkish foreign policy
- require/use/conduct diplomacy
- establish/break off/sever/restore diplomatic relations
- foster/promote/strengthen regional cooperation
- facilitate/achieve economic/political integration
- exercise/defend/protect/transfer/restore/regain national/state/full/limited sovereignty
- consolidate/extend/lose/retain your power (in the region)
- hold/maintain/change/alter/shift/be a shift in the balance of power (in the region)
- cause/create/open/expose/heal/repair a deep/growing/major/serious rift between X and Y
- have/hold/host/attend an international conference/an economic forum/a summit meeting
- launch a new round of global/multilateral/world trade negotiations
- send/head/lead/meet a high-level/an official/a trade delegation
- begin/start/continue/resume peace talks
- be committed to/be opposed to/disrupt/undermine/derail/sabotage the peace process
- negotiate/achieve a lasting political settlement
- broker/sign a peace deal/agreement/treaty
- be/constitute/pose a threat to global security
- compromise/endanger/protect national security
- justify/be in favour of/ (US English) be in favor of/be against military intervention
- threaten/authorize/launch/take/support/oppose unilateral/pre-emptive military action
- impose/enforce/lift/end economic sanctions/an arms embargo/a naval blockade
- close/protect/secure/patrol the border
- lead/be involved in a peacekeeping operation
- negotiate/announce a $15 billion aid package/an economic stimulus package
- send/provide/request/cut off military aid
- bring/provide emergency/humanitarian relief
- deliver/distribute medical supplies/(British English) food parcels/(North American English)food packages
- fund/run a foreign/a local/an international NGO
- reduce/eradicate child/global/world poverty
Extra Examples- Some companies have broken sanctions by supplying arms to the warring states.
- The UN called for sanctions against the invading country.
- The company is in breach of a sanctions order.
- There were calls for the imposition of sanctions.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- economic
- financial
- military
- …
- apply
- enforce
- impose
- …
- sanction against
- sanction for
- the imposition of sanctions
- the lifting of sanctions
- a threat of sanctions
- …
- [uncountable] (formal) official permission or approval for an action or a change synonym authorization
- These changes will require the sanction of the court.
- Their ideas received official sanction at the meeting.
Extra ExamplesTopics Law and justicec2- No decision can be taken without the sanction of the committee.
- The conference gave its official sanction to the change of policy.
- The movement was first given official sanction in the 1960s.
- No parliamentary sanction is needed for the Treasury to borrow money.
- Such a step could not be taken without his sanction.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- government
- official
- divine
- …
- give something
- with somebody/something’s sanction
- without somebody/something’s sanction
- [countable] sanction (against something) a course of action that can be used, if necessary, to make people obey a law or behave in a particular way synonym penalty
- The ultimate sanction will be the closure of the restaurant.
- We now have an effective sanction against the killing of whales.
Extra ExamplesTopics Crime and punishmentc1- The school will use all available sanctions to maintain discipline.
- There were strict sanctions against absenteeism.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- economic
- financial
- military
- …
- apply
- enforce
- impose
- …
- sanction against
- sanction for
- the imposition of sanctions
- the lifting of sanctions
- a threat of sanctions
- …
Word Originlate Middle English (as a noun denoting an ecclesiastical decree): from French, from Latin sanctio(n-), from sancire ‘ratify’. The verb dates from the late 18th cent.
Check pronunciation:
sanction