Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Sanction

Sanc′tion

,
Noun.
[L.
sanctio
, from
sancire
,
sanctum
to render sacred or inviolable, to fix unalterably: cf. F.
sanction
. See
Saint
.]
1.
Solemn or ceremonious ratification; an official act of a superior by which he ratifies and gives validity to the act of some other person or body; establishment or furtherance of anything by giving authority to it; confirmation; approbation.
The strictest professors of reason have added the
sanction
of their testimony.
I. Watts.
2.
Anything done or said to enforce the will, law, or authority of another;
as, legal
sanctions
.
Syn. – Ratification; authorization; authority; countenance; support.

Sanc′tion

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Sanctioned
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Sanctioning
.]
To give sanction to; to ratify; to confirm; to approve.
Would have counseled, or even
sanctioned
, such perilous experiments.
De Quincey.
Syn. – To ratify; confirm; authorize; countenance.

Webster 1828 Edition


Sanction

SANC'TION

,
Noun.
[L. sanctio, from sanctus, holy, solemn, established.]
1.
Ratification; an official act of a superior by which he ratifies and gives validity to the act of some other person or body. A treaty is not valid without the sanction of the president and senate.
2.
Authority; confirmation derived from testimony, character, influence or custom.
The strictest professors of reason have added the sanction of their testimony.
3.
A law or decree. [Improper.]

SANC'TION

,
Verb.
T.
To ratify; to confirm; to give validity or authority to.

Definition 2024


sanction

sanction

English

Noun

sanction (plural sanctions)

  1. An approval, by an authority, generally one that makes something valid.
  2. A penalty, or some coercive measure, intended to ensure compliance; especially one adopted by several nations, or by an international body.
  3. A law, treaty, or contract, or a clause within a law, treaty, or contract, specifying the above.

Translations

Verb

sanction (third-person singular simple present sanctions, present participle sanctioning, simple past and past participle sanctioned)

  1. (transitive) To ratify; to make valid.
  2. (transitive) To give official authorization or approval to; to countenance.
    • 1946, Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, I.21:
      Many of the most earnest Protestants were business men, to whom lending money at interest was essential. Consequently first Calvin, and then other Protestant divines, sanctioned interest.
  3. (transitive) To penalize (a State etc.) with sanctions.

Translations

Anagrams


French

Etymology

From Latin sanctio

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /sɑ̃k.sjɔ̃/

Noun

sanction f (plural sanctions)

  1. sanction