1. (

• sanction ,
• countenance ,
• endorsement ,
• indorsement ,
• warrant ,
• imprimatur

) formal and explicit approval; "a Democrat usually gets the union's endorsement" ;

2. (

• sanction ,

) a mechanism of social control for enforcing a society's standards ;

3. (

• authority ,
• authorization ,
• authorisation ,
• sanction

) official permission or approval; "authority for the program was renewed several times" ;

4. (

• sanction ,

) the act of final authorization; "it had the sanction of the church" ;

1. (

• approve ,
• O.K. ,
• okay ,
• sanction ,

) give sanction to; "I approve of his educational policies" ;

2. (

• sanction ,

) give authority or permission to ;

3. (

• sanction ,

) give religious sanction to, such as through on oath; "sanctify the marriage" ;