sanction
noun
formal and explicit approval
“a Democrat usually gets the union's endorsement”
a mechanism of social control for enforcing a society's standards
official permission or approval
“authority for the program was renewed several times”
the act of final authorization
“it had the sanction of the church”
verb
give sanction to
“I approve of his educational policies”
give authority or permission to
give religious sanction to, such as through on oath
“sanctify the marriage”
Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University