sanction

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: sanc=tion

CIDE DICTIONARY

sanction, n. [L. sanctio, from sancire, sanctum to render sacred or inviolable, to fix unalterably: cf. F. sanction. See Saint.].

•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "The strictest professors of reason have added the sanction of their testimony."  [1913 Webster]
•  Anything done or said to enforce the will, law, or authority of another; as, legal sanctions.  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- Ratification; authorization; authority; countenance; support.

sanction, v. t. 

 To give sanction to; to ratify; to confirm; to approve.  [1913 Webster]
"Would have counseled, or even sanctioned, such perilous experiments."  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- To ratify; confirm; authorize; countenance.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

sanction, n. & v.
--n.
1 approval or encouragement given to an action etc. by custom or tradition; express permission.
2 confirmation or ratification of a law etc.
3 a a penalty for disobeying a law or rule, or a reward for obeying it. b a clause containing this.
4 Ethics a consideration operating to enforce obedience to any rule of conduct.
5 (esp. in pl.) military or esp. economic action by a State to coerce another to conform to an international agreement or norms of conduct.
6 Law hist. a law or decree.
--v.tr.
1 authorize, countenance, or agree to (an action etc.).
2 ratify; attach a penalty or reward to; make binding.

Derivative

sanctionable adj.

Etymology

F f. L sanctio -onis f. sancire sanct- make sacred

THESAURUS

sanction

John Hancock, OK, accede to, accept, acceptance, accord, accord to, accredit, acquiescence, adherence, admiration, admire, advocacy, advocate, affirm, affirmance, affirmation, affirmative, affirmative voice, agree to, agreement, aid, allow, allowance, amen, approbation, approval, approve, approve of, assent, authenticate, authentication, authority, authorization, authorize, autograph, aye, back, backing, ban, be willing, bless, blessing, certificate, certification, certify, charter, clearance, commission, compliance, concurrence, condescend, confirm, confirmation, connivance, connive at, consent, consent to, consent to silently, constitute, cosign, countenance, countersign, countersignature, declare lawful, decree, deign, discipline, eagerness, empower, empowerment, enable, enabling, enact, enactment, encourage, encouragement, endorse, endorsement, enfranchise, enfranchisement, entitle, entitlement, establish, esteem, favor, favorable vote, fiat, formulate, franchise, give consent, give official sanction, give permission, give power, give the go-ahead, give the imprimatur, give thumbs up, go along with, go-ahead, grant, green light, have no objection, help, hold with, imprimatur, initial, keep in countenance, leave, legalization, legalize, legislate, legislation, legitimate, legitimatization, legitimatize, legitimization, legitimize, license, make a regulation, make legal, nod, nod assent, not refuse, notarization, notarize, okay, ordain, pass, pass on, pass upon, patent, penalty, permission, permit, prescribe, privilege, promptitude, promptness, punishment, put in force, ratification, ratify, readiness, recommendation, redress, regulate, respect, retaliation, retribution, rubber stamp, say amen to, say aye, say yes, seal, seal of approval, second, sigil, sign, sign and seal, signature, signet, sponsor, sponsorship, stamp, stamp of approval, submission, subscribe to, subscription, sufferance, support, swear and affirm, swear to, take kindly to, the nod, think well of, undersign, underwrite, ungrudgingness, unloathness, unreluctance, uphold, validate, validation, view with favor, visa, vise, voice, vote, vote affirmatively, vote aye, vouchsafe, warrant, warranty, willingness, wink at, yea, yea vote, yield assent

ROGET THESAURUS

sanction

Permission

N permission, leave, allowance, sufferance, tolerance, toleration, liberty, law, license, concession, grace, indulgence, favor, dispensation, exemption, release, connivance, vouchsafement, authorization, warranty, accordance, admission, permit, warrant, brevet, precept, sanction, authority, firman, hukm, pass, passport, furlough, license, carte blanche, ticket of leave, grant, charter, patent, letters patent, permitting, permissive, indulgent, permitted, patent, chartered, permissible, allowable, lawful, legitimate, legal, legalized, licit, unforbid, unforbidden, unconditional, by leave, with leave, on leave, speciali gratia, under favor of, pace, ad libitum, by all means, yes, avec permissin, brevet d'invention.

VB permit, give permission, give power, let, allow, admit, suffer, bear with, tolerate, recognize, concede, accord, vouchsafe, favor, humor, gratify, indulge, stretch a point, wink at, connive at, shut one's eyes to, grant, empower, charter, enfranchise, privilege, confer a privilege, license, authorize, warrant, sanction, intrust, give carte blanche, give the reins to, give scope to, leave alone, leave it to one, leave the door open, open the door to, open the flood gates, give a loose to, let off, absolve, release, exonerate, dispense with, ask permission, beg permission, request permission, ask leave, beg leave, request leave.

Dueness

N due, dueness, right, privilege, prerogative, prescription, title, claim, pretension, demand, birthright, immunity, license, liberty, franchise, vested interest, vested right, sanction, authority, warranty, charter, warrant, constitution, tenure, bond, claimant, appellant, plaintiff, having a right to, entitled to, claiming, deserving, meriting, worthy of, privileged, allowed, sanctioned, warranted, authorized, ordained, prescribed, constitutional, chartered, enfranchised, prescriptive, presumptive, absolute, indefeasible, unalienable, inalienable, imprescriptible, inviolable, unimpeachable, unchallenged, sacrosanct, due to, merited, deserved, condign, richly deserved, allowable, lawful, licit, legitimate, legal, legalized, square, unexceptionable, right, equitable, due, en r gle, fit, fitting, correct, proper, meet, befitting, becoming, seemly, decorous, creditable, up to the mark, right as a trivet, just the thing, quite the thing, selon les r gles, duly, ex officio, de jure, by right, by divine right, jure divino, Dei gratia, in the name of, civis Romanus sum, +a chaque saint sa chandelle.

Approbation

N approbation, approval, approvement, sanction, advocacy, nod of approbation, esteem, estimation, good opinion, golden opinions, admiration, love, appreciation, regard, account, popularity, kudos, credit, repute, best seller, commendation, praise, laud, laudation, good word, meed of praise, tribute of praise, encomium, eulogy, eulogium, eloge, panegyric, homage, hero worship, benediction, blessing, benison, applause, plaudit, clap, clapping, clapping of hands, acclaim, acclamation, cheer, paean, hosannah, shout of applause, peal of applause, chorus of applause, chorus of praise, Prytaneum, approving, in favor of, lost in admiration, commendatory, complimentary, benedictory, laudatory, panegyrical, eulogistic, encomiastic, lavish of praise, uncritical, approved, praised, uncensured, unimpeached, popular, in good odor, in high esteem, in favor, in high favor, deserving of praise, worthy of praise, praiseworthy, commendable, of estimation, good, meritorious, estimable, creditable, plausible, unimpeachable, beyond all praise, with credit, to admiration, well, with three times three, Int, hear hear!, bully for you!, well done!, bravo!, bravissimo!, euge!, macte virtute!, so far so good, that's right, quite right, optime!, one cheer more, may your shadow never be less!, esto perpetua!, long life to!, viva!, enviva!, Godspeed!, valete et plaudite!, encore!, bis!, probatum est, tacent satis laudant, servant of God, well done!.

VB approve, approbate, think good, think much of, think well of, think highly of, esteem, value, prize, set great store by, set great store on, do justice to, appreciate, honor, hold in esteem, look up to, admire, like, be in favor of, wish Godspeed, hail, hail with satisfaction, stand up for, stick up for, uphold, hold up, countenance, sanction, clap on the back, pat on the back, keep in countenance, indorse, give credit, recommend, mark with a white mark, mark with a stone, commend, belaud, praise, laud, compliment, pay a tribute, bepraise, clap the hands, applaud, cheer, acclamate, encore, panegyrize, eulogize, cry up, proner, puff, extol, extol to the skies, magnify, glorify, exalt, swell, make much of, flatter, bless, give a blessing to, have a good word for, say a good word for, speak well of, speak highly of, speak in high terms of, sing the praises of, sound the praises of, chaunt the praises of, resound the praises of, sing praises to, cheer to the echo, applaud to the echo, applaud to the very echo, cheer to the very echo, redound to the honor, redound to the praise, redound to the credit of, do credit to, deserve praise, recommend itself, pass muster, be praised, receive honorable mention, be in favor with, be in high favor with, ring with the praises of, win golden opinions, gain credit, find favor with, stand well in the opinion of, laudari a laudato viro.