· formal and explicit approval; "a Democrat usually gets the union's endorsement"

Synonym(s): countenance, endorsement, indorsement, warrant, imprimatur

Hypernym(s): approval, commendation

· a mechanism of social control for enforcing a society's standards

Hypernym(s): social_control

· official permission or approval; "authority for the program was renewed several times"

Synonym(s): authority, authorization, authorisation

Hypernym(s): permission

· the act of final authorization; "it had the sanction of the church"

Hypernym(s): authorization, authorisation, empowerment

· give sanction to; "I approve of his educational policies"

Synonym(s): approve, O.K., okay

Hypernym(s): authorize, authorise, pass, clear

· give authority or permission to

Hypernym(s): empower, authorise, authorize

· give religious sanction to, such as through on oath; "sanctify the marriage"

Hypernym(s): approve, O.K., okay, sanction