sanction
Definitions
A threatened penalty for disobeying a law or rule.
Official permission or approval for an action.
To impose a penalty on or give official authorization to.
Examples
The international community decided to impose a trade sanction on the country to discourage its aggressive military actions.
The school board refused to sanction the student's proposal for an unauthorized protest on campus.
The official sanction for breaking the company's code of conduct was an immediate suspension without pay.