French word

sanctionner

Pronunciation

IPA/sɑ̃ksjone/

Meaning

  • verbpunish

Example

Le professeur a sanctionné l'élève pour son retard.

The teacher punished the student for being late.

Illustration for sanctionner (punish)

More examples

Les parents ont sanctionné la faute de leur enfant.

The parents punished their child's wrongdoing.

Core concept

An official authority imposes a formal penalty on a person or organization after a rule is broken.

Common phrases

  • sanctionner une faute

    punish wrongdoing

  • sanctionner un comportement

    punish behavior

Similar words

punir: Punish someone for wrongdoing or bad behavior.
pénaliser: Impose a disadvantage for breaking a rule.
réprimander: Rebuke someone verbally for misconduct.
condamner: Find someone guilty in court and impose a sentence.

Definition in French

Appliquer une sanction, c'est-à-dire infliger une pénalité officielle à une personne ou une organisation pour une infraction.

Word origin

French sanctionner is formed from sanction, from Latin sanctio, an official enactment or penalty, with the productive verb ending -er.

Usage tips

  • Sanctionner takes a direct object, as in sanctionner l'élève, and pour introduces the reason for the penalty.

Other meanings

  • sanctionverb

Opposites

Related words

  • sanctionsanctionnoun
  • sanctionnablepunishableadjective
  • sanctionnépunishedadjective

Word lists with this word