- sanc´tion|er
- sanc|tion «SANGK shuhn», noun, verb.–n.1. a) permission with authority; support; approval: »
We have the sanction of the recreation department to play ball in this park. Plans are also being prepared for the building of nine others, for which all necessary sanctions from various interested authorities have been obtained (London Times).
SYNONYM(S): approbation. b) Figurative. encouragement given to an opinion or practice, as by an influential person or by custom or public opinion: »Religion gave her sanction to that intense and unquenchable animosity (Macaulay).
2. the act of making legally authoritative or binding; solemn ratification or confirmation: »The day on which the royal sanction was…solemnly given to this great Act (Macaulay).
3. a) a provision of a law stating a penalty for disobedience to it or a reward for obedience. b) the penalty or reward.4. an action by several nations toward another nation, such as a blockade, restrictions on trade, or withholding loans, intended to force it to obey international law: »to apply economic sanctions, rather than to threaten with military ones.
5. a consideration that leads one to obey a rule of conduct.6. binding force: »This word [honor] is often made the sanction of an oath (Jonathan Swift).
–v.t.1. to approve; allow: »Her conscience does not sanction stealing. The use of a site in Hyde Park, selected by the Prince, was sanctioned by the Government (Lytton Strachey).
SYNONYM(S): authorize. See syn. under approve. (Cf. ↑approve)2. to make valid or binding; confirm.–sanc´tion|er, noun.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.