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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Sanction: Dual Meanings, Usage & Common Mistakes (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：impose penalties (sanction)

sanction 🔊

/ˈsæŋkʃn/

vt.

When a country or organization officially punishes another country, for example by stopping trade with it.

Sanction meaning illustration: international diplomats imposing economic penalties.

impose penalties 🔊

➕

/ɪmˈpoʊz ˈpɛnəltiz/

vt.

To officially apply punitive measures, typically by a state or international body, against another entity for wrongdoing.

📁 Category：Countries & Government 🔖 Level：Advanced

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'sancire', meaning to decree or make sacred.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of a coin: one side penalizes (sanctions against), the other approves (sanctions for).

📖 Example

The United Nations decided to sanction the country for violating international peace agreements. 🔊 The United Nations decided to impose penalties on the country for violating international peace agreements.

🔗 Collocations

economic sanctions – Financial or trade restrictions imposed as a penalty.

impose sanctions – To officially apply penalties or restrictions.

lift sanctions – To remove previously imposed penalties.

🔄 Synonyms

penalize (vt.) – To subject to a penalty for breaking a rule or law.

punish (vt.) – To inflict a penalty on someone for an offense.

censure (vt.) – To express severe disapproval, often formally.

🚫 Antonyms

reward (vt.) – To give something in recognition of service or achievement.

praise (vt.) – To express warm approval or admiration.

🌱 Derivatives

sanctions (n.) – The penalties or measures themselves.

📖 Cultural Story

Originating from Latin 'sanctio', meaning a decree or law. Its journey into English shows a fascinating semantic split, evolving from a neutral 'official decree' to encompass both punishment (enforcing a law) and approval (authorizing an action). This dual meaning is a classic example of an auto-antonym, often seen in legal and diplomatic contexts.

Meaning 2：authorize formally (sanction)

sanction 🔊

/ˈsæŋkʃn/

vt.

To officially give permission or approval for something to happen.

Sanction definition graphic: official approval stamp on a project document.

authorize formally 🔊

➕

/ˈɔːθəraɪz ˈfɔːrməli/

vt.

To give official permission, approval, or ratification to an action or plan.

📁 Category：Laws & Regulations 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The school principal will only sanction the student trip if all safety measures are strictly followed. 🔊 The school principal will only give official approval for the student trip if all safety measures are strictly followed.

🔗 Collocations

sanction the use of – To officially permit the employment or application of something.

officially sanction – To give formal and authoritative approval.

seek sanction for – To request official permission or approval.

🔄 Synonyms

authorize (vt.) – To give official permission for or approval to.

approve (vt.) – To officially agree to or accept as satisfactory.

ratify (vt.) – To sign or give formal consent to, making it officially valid.

🚫 Antonyms

forbid (vt.) – To refuse to allow or to order someone not to do something.

prohibit (vt.) – To formally forbid by law, rule, or other authority.

🌱 Derivatives

sanctioned (adj.) – Having received official permission or approval.