Sanción

Sanción is a term used in Spanish to denote a penalty or coercive measure imposed for violating rules, norms, or laws. It can also mean formal approval or ratification, as in the act of signing a law or treaty into effect. The word derives from Latin sanctio, passing into French sanction and then into Spanish.

In legal and administrative contexts, sanción refers to the penalties imposed for noncompliance. Common forms include fines, imprisonment, community service, probation, suspension or revocation of licenses, and other disciplinary measures applied by courts, agencies, or professional bodies. Sanciones can be criminal, civil, or administrative, and they may target individuals, companies, or institutions.

Internationally, the term also describes measures designed to influence state behavior, such as economic or diplomatic restrictions. International or unilateral sanctions can be broad, affecting an entire economy, or targeted (smart sanctions) aimed at specific leaders, entities, or sectors. The objectives are deterrence, coercion, or signaling disapproval, often under the oversight of organizations like the United Nations or regional bodies. The effectiveness and humanitarian impact of sanctions are subjects of ongoing debate.

In everyday use, sanción appears in various domains. In sports, a disciplinary sanction is a penal measure applied for infractions. In legislative contexts, a sanctioned law is one that has been formally signed into effect. The dual sense—as punishment and as formal approval—illustrates the term’s broad legal and administrative relevance.