French word

sanction

Pronunciation

IPA/sɑ̃ksjɔ̃/

Meaning

  • feminine nounpenalty

Example

Il existe une sanction pour cette infraction.

There is a penalty for this offense.

Illustration for sanction (penalty)

More examples

Le salarié a reçu une sanction disciplinaire.

The employee received a disciplinary penalty.

Core concept

An authority's official penalty attached to a rule violation.

Common phrases

  • imposer une sanction

    impose a penalty

  • une sanction pénale

    criminal penalty

  • une sanction disciplinaire

    disciplinary penalty

Similar words

punition: An act of punishing or disciplining a child or student.
amende: A financial punishment for violating a law or regulation.
peine: The punishment ordered by a court for a crime or serious breach.
pénalité: A penalty for violating rules in sports or under a contract.

Definition in French

Punition ou mesure disciplinaire imposée par une autorité (employeur, école, tribunal) pour sanctionner un comportement fautif.

Word origin

French sanction comes from Latin sanctio, from sancire, "to decree or make sacred", and developed from an official ruling into a penalty for wrongdoing.

Usage tips

  • The disciplinary noun is feminine, so standard forms include une sanction and sanctionner une infraction.

Other meanings

  • disciplinary actionnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • sanctionnerpunishverb
  • sanctionnépunishedadjective
  • sanctionnablepunishableadjective

Word lists with this word