sanction
noun / verb C1
Plain meaning
an official punishment; sometimes also official permission
Exam-register meaning
a penalty imposed to enforce rules, or formal authorisation depending on context
In context
generalThe company faced sanctions for breaking safety rules.
examEconomic sanctions are often used to pressure states that violate international agreements.
Common collocations
economic sanctionsimpose sanctionsofficial sanction
Watch out
Be careful: 'sanction' can mean punishment or approval. Use context to decide.
Word family
sanctioned (adjective/participle)sanction (noun/verb)