How to Pronounce Sanction

To pronounce "sanction", say SANCT-ion — 2 syllables, IPA /ˈsæŋkʃən/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

sanction

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

If an accent sounds the same, your device is missing that voice — it falls back to the closest one.

Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

Practice: Record & Compare

Record yourself saying sanction, then compare with the target. Your audio stays on this device — nothing is uploaded.

2

Syllables

8

Letters

/ˈsæŋkʃən/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “sanction”

"sanction" has 2 syllables: sanct-ion.

What does sanction mean?

noun

  1. An approval, by an authority, generally one that makes something valid.

    “The whalers had been operating in the contested waters off the island with sanction from the Japanese government.”

  2. A penalty, punishment, or some coercive measure, intended to ensure compliance; especially one adopted by several nations, or by an international body.

    “The United States enacted a new round of sanctions against the apartheid regime of South Africa.”

verb

  1. To ratify; to make valid.
  2. To give official authorization or approval to; to countenance.

Hear “sanction” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Related words

warrantapproveendorsementokauthorityimprimaturcountenanceokay

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "sanction"?▾

"Sanction" has 2 syllables: sanct · ion.

What is the IPA transcription of "sanction"?▾

The IPA transcription of "sanction" is /ˈsæŋkʃən/.

What does "sanction" mean?▾

Sanction: An approval, by an authority, generally one that makes something valid.

Want the definition, translations into 8 languages, and read-aloud for full sentences?

Open “sanction” in the full dictionary →