sanction

英['sæŋ(k)ʃ(ə)n] 美['sæŋkʃən]

1. formal and explicit approval;

"a Democrat usually gets the union's endorsement"

2. a mechanism of social control for enforcing a society's standards

3. official permission or approval;

"authority for the program was renewed several times"

4. the act of final authorization;

"it had the sanction of the church"