WordWeb Online

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, greenlight, OK, green-light
    
2. Give authority or permission to
    
3. Give religious sanction to, such as through an oath
   - sanctify
    
4. Impose a penalty on; inflict punishment on
   - punish, penalize, penalise [Brit]

See also: enabling

Type of: authorise [Brit], authorize, clear, empower, pass

Encyclopedia: Sanction, Pragmatic