| noun | formal and explicit approval “a Democrat usually gets the union's endorsement” |
| noun | a mechanism of social control for enforcing a society's standards |
| noun | official permission or approval “authority for the program was renewed several times” |
| noun | the act of final authorization “it had the sanction of the church” |
| verb | give sanction to “I approve of his educational policies” |
| verb | give authority or permission to |
| verb | give religious sanction to, such as through on oath “sanctify the marriage” |
| sanction | verb | give authority or permission to |
| countenance | verb | consent to, give permission |
| endorse | verb | guarantee as meeting a certain standard |
| indorse | verb | guarantee as meeting a certain standard |
| authorize | verb | grant authorization or clearance for |
| authorise | verb | grant authorization or clearance for |
| approbative | adjective | expressing or manifesting praise or approval |
| approbation | noun | official recognition or approval |
| approver | noun | an authority with power to approve |
| approval | noun | the formal act of approving |
| OK | noun | an endorsement |
| O.K. | noun | an endorsement |
| okay | noun | an endorsement |
| sanction | noun | formal and explicit approval |
| sanctionative | adjective | implying sanction or serving to sanction |