simple past tense and past participle of sanction
"The committee sanctioned the new policy last week after reviewing all the data."
conforming to orthodox or recognized rules
"the drinking of cocktails was as canonical a rite as the mixing"
formally approved and invested with legal authority
"The council finally sanctioned the new zoning plan, giving it full legal authority to proceed."
established by authority; given authoritative approval
"a list of approved candidates"