Sanctions

How it is used

Almost always plural in this meaning. Sanctions are imposed, tightened, eased, lifted and evaded, and a country can be 'under sanctions'. Types include economic, financial, trade and targeted sanctions. The UN Security Council and the EU both adopt sanctions regimes.

Example sentences

1. The bloc agreed to impose new sanctions on the companies named in the report.

2. Sanctions will be lifted only if the government meets all the conditions.

3. Banks must check that their clients are not under sanctions.

Common collocations

• impose sanctions
• lift sanctions
• ease sanctions
• under sanctions
• sanctions regime

Related terms

• embargoAn official ban on trade, or on a particular kind of trade such as arms or oil, with a specific country, imposed by a state or international organisation.
• targeted sanctionsSanctions aimed at specific people, companies or sectors, such as officials or banks, instead of a whole country's economy, in order to limit harm to ordinary citizens.
• asset freezeA measure that stops a person, company or government from using or moving the money and property they hold abroad or in a country's banks.
• secondary sanctionsSanctions that punish companies or banks in third countries for doing business with a state or person that is already under sanctions.
• export controlsGovernment rules that limit, or require licences for, the export of sensitive goods, software and technology, especially items that could have military uses.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

• sanctions · Finance & Banking

More terms: Sanctions & Economic Diplomacy

• travel ban
• foreign aid
• economic diplomacy