sanction Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun formal and explicit approval
indorsement; countenance; endorsement; imprimatur; warrant.
- a Democrat usually gets the union's endorsement
noun a mechanism of social control for enforcing a society's standards
noun official permission or approval
authorisation; authorization; authority.
- authority for the program was renewed several times
noun the act of final authorization
- it had the sanction of the church
verb give sanction to
O.K.; okay; approve.
- I approve of his educational policies
verb give authority or permission to
verb give religious sanction to, such as through on oath
- sanctify the marriage

L. sanctio, from sancire, samctum to render sacred or inviolable, to fix unalternably: 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 authority to it; confirmation; approbation.
The strictest professors of reason have added the sanction of their testimony. I. Watts.
Anything done or said to enforce the will, law, or authority of another; as, legal sanctions. Syn. -- Ratification; authorization; authoruty; countenance; support.

imperfect & past participle Sanctioned ; present participle & verbal noun 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.