sanctionsanc·tion /ˈsæŋkʃən/ noun1sanctions [plural]ECONOMICS official orders or laws stopping trade, communication etc with another country as a way of forcing political changessanctions againstThe US imposed tough trade sanctions against Cuba.
The UN security council unanimously refused to lift economic sanctions.
2[countableC]LAW a punishment for disobeying a rule or lawThe most severe sanction the panel could recommend is expulsion from the Senate.
3[countableC] official permission or approvalThe proposals are subject to the official sanction of the Council.
—sanction verb [transitiveT]Shareholders must sanction donations to political parties before they are made.