BharatNotes Sanctions
noun (countable plural; singular 'sanction' also used as a verb)Usage in a UPSC answer
India's strategic calculus on the S-400 missile system has been shaped partly by uncertainty over whether CAATSA sanctions — which the US Congress passed in 2017 to penalise purchasers of major Russian defence equipment — would be waived or enforced against New Delhi.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
sanction (n/v), sanctions (n pl), sanctioned (adj/v past), sanctioning (v), sanctionable (adj), sanctity (n, cognate)
Root
Latin sanctio = a decree, solemn enactment; from sancire = to make sacred, to decree; sanctus = holy, inviolable
Etymology
From Latin sanctio, a formal decree or law made inviolable by religious ratification, from sancire ('to make sacred or inviolable'). In English the word entered via Old French sanction in the 16th century, initially carrying both the positive sense ('official approval') and the negative sense ('penalty for breach'). The plural sanctions to mean international punitive measures became dominant usage in the 20th century, solidified by League of Nations practice against Italy (1935–36) and Cold War diplomacy.
Memory Hook
Latin sancire means to make sacred and inviolable — what is sacred is sanctioned (approved). But break it, and the state imposes sanctions (penalties). Both meanings live in one root: the sacred line, and the punishment for crossing it.
Seen in UPSC Question Papers
- Prelims 2021 — Internal Security
Real UPSC previous-year questions whose text uses “Sanctions” — proof this word earns its place on your list.
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