n. The act of making sacred; the act of rendering authoritative as law; the act of decreeing or ratifying; the act of making binding, as by an oath.n. A decree; an ordinance; a law: as, the pragmatic sanction.n. The conferring of authority upon an opinion, practice, or sentiment; confirmation or support derived from public approval, from exalted testimony, or from the countenance of a person or body commanding respect.n. A provision of a law which enforces obedience by the enactment of rewards or penalties, called respectively remuneratory and punitive sanctions; hence, in utilitarian ethics, the knowledge of the pleasurable or painful consequences of an act, as making it moral or immoral.n. Synonyms and Authorization, countenance, support, warrant.To give authoritative permission or approval to: ratify; confirm; invest with validity or authority.To give countenance or support to; approve.Synonyms Allow, Permit, etc. See allow.