1. Implying sanction or serving to sanction
   "the guardian's duties were primarily sanctioning rather than administrative";
   - sanctionative

1. Give permission or approval for something
   "I will sanction his educational policies";
   - approve, O.K., okay, green-light, greenlight, OK
    
2. Give authority or permission to
   "The committee sanctioned the proposed changes to the bylaws"
    
3. Give religious sanction to, such as through an oath
   "sanction the marriage";
   - sanctify
    
4. Impose a penalty on; inflict punishment on
   "The committee sanctioned the athlete for doping";
   - punish, penalize, penalise [Brit]

See also: enabling

Type of: authorise [Brit], authorize, bring down, clear, empower, impose, inflict, obtrude, pass, visit

Encyclopedia: Sanction, Pragmatic