Definitions of sanction
official permission or approval for something
The management refused to grant a sanction for his proposed move to a rival football club.
strong action taken to make people obey a law, a rule or an order etc; or punishment given to people when they disobey a law, a rule, or an order etc
There is no clear law as to what sanction applies if a parent puts false information on the form.
sanctions are measures taken by one or more states to apply pressure on another state to obey international law or opinion
No amount of UN sanctions will deter us from our nuclear programme.