noun / verb
sanction
Official permission or the act of granting it.
The city council gives its sanction to the proposed expansion.
Etymology
The Latin noun concerns establishing something as binding or valid. Its approving sense survives in official authorization that gives an action recognized legitimacy.
More examples
- The principal sanctions the use of classrooms for evening meetings.
- Construction cannot begin without official sanction.
- The league sanctioned the tournament after reviewing its safety plans.
Forms
sanction · sanctions · sanctioned · sanctioning
Similar words
- approval
- Can express favorable opinion without granting official permission.
- authorization
- Emphasizes formally granting someone the power or right to act.
- permission
- Can be personal or informal, without an official authority.