Watch out for ambiguous words: sanction

The word "sanction" needs context to clear up its meaning. Is it good or bad?

If a lawyer is "sanctioned" by the court, that's bad.

But if an action is "sanctioned" by its governing body, that is good.

Context determines the meaning.

Black's dictionary:

sanction: (noun) 1. official approval or authorization (the committee gave sanction to the proposal); 2. a penalty or coercive measure that results from failure to comply with a law, rule, or order (a sanction for discovery abuse).

sanction: (verb) 1. to approve, authorize, or support (the court will sanction the trust deposit if it is not against public policy); 2. to penalize by imposing a sanction (the court sanctioned the attorney for violating the gag order).

So, when a court issues a sanction, it could be either good or bad, depending on context. Confusing, huh?