/'sæŋkʃn; `sæŋkʃən/
n
1 [U] permission or approval for an action, a change, etc （对某种行动、变化等的）认可, 批准
*The book was translated without the sanction of the author. 这本书未经作者许可就给翻译了.
* The government gave its sanction to what the Minister had done. 政府对这位部长的做法均已认可.
* These measures have the sanction of tradition, ie seem justified because they have often been taken before. 这些措施已约定俗成.
2 [C] reason that stops people disobeying laws, rules, etc 使人们不违背法律、规定等的因素或约束力
*Is prison the best sanction against a crime like this? 为遏止这类罪行, 监禁手段是否是上策?
* The fear of ridicule is a very effective sanction. 人们不做违法乱纪的事, 其中一个重要因素就是怕人耻笑.
3 measure taken to force a country to obey international law （迫使某国服从国际法的）处罚措施, 制裁
*apply economic sanctions against a repressive regime 对一压制人民的政体实行经济制裁.

v [Tn, Tg, Tsg] give one's permission for (sth); authorize or approve 同意（某事）; 批准; 认可
*I can't sanction your methods. 我不能同意你的办法.
* Who sanctioned bombing the town? 是谁批准轰炸那座城的?
* They won't sanction our spending on this scale. 他们不会同意我们这么大的开支.