Cool MatePenalty vs Sanction
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Penalty
Sanction
| Penalty | Sanction | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈpenəlti/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈpenəlti/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈsæŋkʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsæŋkʃn/"]/ |
| Meaning | A punishment for breaking a rule. | To allow or approve something, or to punish someone for something. |
| Example | The player received a penalty for a foul during the match. | The government imposed economic sanctions on the country to discourage its aggressive actions. |
| Register | Neutral | Formal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | C1 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | harsh, heavy, hefty, impose, introduce, levy, fee, notice, ticket, on penalty of, under penalty of, penalty for, pay, suffer, accept, penalty for, penalty of, controversial, disputed, dodgy, award (somebody), give (somebody), concede, area, box, corner, penalty by, penalty from | economic, financial, military, apply, enforce, impose, sanction against, sanction for, the imposition of sanctions, the lifting of sanctions, a threat of sanctions, government, official, divine, give something, with somebody/something’s sanction, without somebody/something’s sanction, economic, financial, military, apply, enforce, impose, sanction against, sanction for, the imposition of sanctions, the lifting of sanctions, a threat of sanctions |
| Antonyms | reward, benefit | approve, permit |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'fine' which is monetary punishment., Using 'penalty' in contexts unrelated to rules or laws. | Confused with the opposite meaning (approval vs punishment)., Omitting the object when using the word., Using it in informal contexts where approval is meant. |
| Usage notes | Used in formal contexts like sports, law, and contracts. Avoid in casual conversation unless discussing a specific game or legal situation. | In formal contexts, 'sanction' can imply both approval and punishment, which can be confusing. In legal or diplomatic language, it's often used to refer to punitive measures against countries or organizations. Avoid using in casual conversations. |
Frequently asked questions: Penalty vs Sanction
What's the difference between Penalty and Sanction?
Penalty: A punishment for breaking a rule. Sanction: To allow or approve something, or to punish someone for something.
Which is more formal: Penalty and Sanction?
Sanction is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Penalty and Sanction?
Penalty is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Penalty and Sanction?
Sanction is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Penalty and Sanction the same CEFR level?
Penalty: B2, Sanction: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Penalty and Sanction?
Penalty: noun, Sanction: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Penalty: The player received a penalty for a foul during the match. Sanction: The government imposed economic sanctions on the country to discourage its aggressive actions.
Can I use Penalty and Sanction interchangeably?
Not always. Penalty and Sanction are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.