Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun sanction

4 senses of sanction

Sense 1
sanction, countenance, endorsement, indorsement, warrant, imprimatur -- (formal and explicit approval; "a Democrat usually gets the union's endorsement")
       => approval, commendation -- (a message expressing a favorable opinion; "words of approval seldom passed his lips")

Sense 2
sanction -- (a mechanism of social control for enforcing a society's standards)
       => social control -- (control exerted (actively or passively) by group action)

Sense 3
authority, authorization, authorisation, sanction -- (official permission or approval; "authority for the program was renewed several times")
       => permission -- (approval to do something; "he asked permission to leave")

Sense 4
sanction -- (the act of final authorization; "it had the sanction of the church")
       => authorization, authorisation, empowerment -- (the act of conferring legality or sanction or formal warrant)

Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb sanction

3 senses of sanction

Sense 1
approve, O.K., okay, sanction -- (give sanction to; "I approve of his educational policies")
       => authorize, authorise, pass, clear -- (grant authorization or clearance for; "Clear the manuscript for publication"; "The rock star never authorized this slanderous biography")

Sense 2
sanction -- (give authority or permission to)
       => empower, authorise, authorize -- (give or delegate power or authority to; "She authorized her assistant to sign the papers")

Sense 3
sanction -- (give religious sanction to, such as through on oath; "sanctify the marriage")
       => approve, O.K., okay, sanction -- (give sanction to; "I approve of his educational policies")