Sanction
/ˈsæŋkʃən/noun
A penalty or coercive measure imposed to enforce compliance with a law or regulation.
Did you know?The dual meaning of 'sanction' reflects ancient practices where approval and punishment were intertwined in the enforcement of laws and societal norms.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
sanctio
“A decree or penalty, originally meaning 'to make sacred'.”
Late Latin
Late Latin
sanctio
“The act of making something holy or setting it apart.”
Old French
Old French
sanction
“The act of confirming or enforcing a law.”
Middle English
Middle English
sanction
“Official approval or permission, often with a sense of enforcement.”
Modern English
Modern English
sanction
“A term used for both approval and punitive measures in legal contexts.”