Pronunciation: [sˈankʃənz] (IPA) 
The word "sanctions" is spelled with the phonemes /sæn(k)ʃənz/. The first sound is /s/ which is followed by the vowel /æ/. The consonant cluster /n(k)/ comes next and is pronounced in one sound, followed by the fricative sound /ʃ/. The word ends with the vowel /ənz/. The spelling of the word may seem confusing due to the silent "c" in the middle, but it is necessary to distinguish it from the similarly spelled word "sanctuaries".
Sanctions refer to measures or actions taken by a country, group of countries, or international organizations to exert pressure or impose penalties on another country. These measures are typically employed as a means of influencing and coercing a targeted country to alter its behavior, comply with certain standards, or address specific concerns.
Sanctions can take various forms, including economic, political, or diplomatic measures. Economic sanctions, for example, involve imposing trade restrictions, embargoes, or financial penalties on the targeted country. These measures can include restrictions on imports or exports, freezing assets, blocking access to global financial markets, or imposing tariffs.
Political sanctions often involve diplomatic actions such as suspending diplomatic relations, expelling diplomats, or reducing diplomatic contact. They can also include travel bans, prohibiting officials from the targeted country from entering other countries, or restricting participation in international organizations.
Sanctions can be imposed for a range of reasons, including violations of human rights, engaging in aggressive military actions, supporting terrorism, nuclear proliferation, or undermining international law. Some sanctions are mandated by international bodies like the United Nations, while others may be implemented unilaterally by individual countries or groups of states.
The effectiveness and impact of sanctions can vary, as they can have both intended and unintended consequences. They are intended to exert pressure and encourage change in behavior, but they can also harm the general population of the targeted country, leading to economic hardships and suffering, particularly affecting vulnerable groups.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "sanctions" originated from the Latin verb "sanctio" meaning "an authoritative act" or "a decree". It was derived from the verb "sanctire" which means "to confirm" or "make holy". Over time, the term "sanction" evolved to refer to the explicit or official approval, permission, or endorsement granted by a person or an authority. In the modern sense, "sanctions" usually refers to measures taken against a country or individual as a form of punishment or pressure to enforce adherence to international laws or policies.
