sanction

[Sanc·tion]

Sanction has two nearly opposite meanings: to sanction can be to approve of something, but it can also mean to punish, or speak harshly to. Likewise, a sanction can be a punishment or approval. Very confusing––the person who invented this word should be publicly sanctioned!

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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.

Noun
a mechanism of social control for enforcing a society''s standards

Noun
the act of final authorization; "it had the sanction of the church"

Noun
official permission or approval; "authority for the program was renewed several times"

Noun
formal and explicit approval; "a Democrat usually gets the union''s endorsement"

Verb
give sanction to; "I approve of his educational policies"

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Verb
give religious sanction to, such as through on oath; "sanctify the marriage"

Verb
give authority or permission to

n.
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.

n.
Anything done or said to enforce the will, law, or authority of another; as, legal sanctions.

v. t.
To give sanction to; to ratify; to confirm; to approve.

Sanction

Sanc"tion , n. [L. sanctio, from sancire, samctum to render sacred or inviolable, to fix unalternably: 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 authority to it; confirmation; approbation.

The strictest professors of reason have added the sanction of their testimony.

2. Anything done or said to enforce the will, law, or authority of another; as, legal sanctions. Syn. -- Ratification; authorization; authoruty; countenance; support.

Sanction

Sanc"tion, v. 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.

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

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.

To give sanction to; to ratify; to confirm; to approve.

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Usage Examples

Death is the sanction of everything the story-teller can tell. He has borrowed his authority from death.

As the most extravagant errors were received among the established articles of their faith, so the most infamous vices obtained in their practice, and were indulged not only with impunity, but authorized by the sanction of their laws.

Happiness is the only sanction of life where happiness fails, existence remains a mad and lamentable experiment.

Character is the basis of happiness and happiness the sanction of character.

My father was a Catholic, but my mother wasn't. She had to do that weird deal you do as a Catholic - they deign to sanction your marriage and you have to bring your children up as Catholics.

Misspelled Form

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Other Usage Examples

The aspects of patriotism that hush dissent, encourage going along, and sanction comfortable distancing and compliance with what is indecent and unacceptable... those aspects are too fundamental to ignore or gloss over.

All who think cannot but see there is a sanction like that of religion which binds us in partnership in the serious work of the world.

Existentialism is about being a saint without God being your own hero, without all the sanction and support of religion or society.

But, strictly speaking, this mythology was no essential part of ancient religion, for it had no sacred sanction and no binding force on the worshippers.

We are victims of evil customs. It is a crime against humanity that our women are shut up within the four walls of the houses as prisoners. There is no sanction anywhere for the deplorable condition in which our women have to live.