What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
sanction
Example
The government imposed economic sanctions on the country for violating human rights. [sanctions: noun]
Example
The school sanctioned the use of electronic devices during class hours. [sanctioned: verb]
punishment
Example
The judge sentenced the criminal to life imprisonment as punishment for the crime. [punishment: noun]
Example
The parents punished their child by taking away their phone privileges. [punished: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Punishment is more commonly used than sanction in everyday language. Punishment is a versatile term that covers a wide range of contexts, while sanction is less common and often used in formal or legal settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between sanction and punishment?
While punishment can be used in both formal and informal contexts, sanction is typically associated with a formal or legal tone.
