sanction

noun

1 (usually sanctions) codes of practice should be accompanied by sanctions for offenders | trade sanctions:

penalty, punishment, deterrent;

punitive action, discipline, penalization, correction, retribution;

embargo, ban, prohibition, boycott, barrier, restriction, tariff.

▷antonyms reward.

2 the scheme is to receive the sanction of the court:

authorization, consent, leave, permission, authority, warrant, licence, dispensation, assent, acquiescence, agreement, approval, seal/stamp of approval, approbation, recognition, endorsement, accreditation, confirmation, ratification, validation, blessing, imprimatur, clearance, acceptance, allowance;

informal the go-ahead, the thumbs up, the OK, the green light, say-so;

rare permit.

▷antonyms prohibition, ban.

verb

1 the rally was sanctioned by the government:

authorize, consent to, permit, allow, give leave for, give permission for, warrant, accredit, license, give assent to, endorse, agree to, approve, accept, give one's blessing to, back, support;

informal give the thumbs up to, give the green light to, OK;

North American, rare approbate.

▷antonyms prohibit, ban.

2 the penalties for water pollution are frail in comparison with those available to sanction traditional crime:

punish, discipline someone for.

sanction Oxford Dictionary of English