WordValeembargo
an official ban on trade with a country
In more detail
1. (noun) an official order by a government that stops trade with another country, usually as a punishment
2. (verb) to officially stop trade with another country
Examples
- 1. The United States placed an embargo on Cuban goods for many decades.
- 2. Several nations voted to embargo the country after it invaded its neighbor.
How to use embargo
Embargo typically refers to an official government restriction on trade, often used as a political or economic punishment against another nation. It is more formal and specific than the general term 'ban,' and implies a deliberate, sustained policy rather than a temporary measure. The term can be both countable and uncountable depending on context.
Common phrases
- impose an embargo
- lift an embargo
- trade embargo
- economic embargo
- embargo on goods
Synonyms
ban · blockade · prohibition · restriction · sanction
Opposites
trade · commerce · agreement
Word family
embargo (noun/verb) · embargoed (adjective) · embargoes (plural)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse embargo with 'quarantine' (isolation of people/goods due to disease) or use it too broadly for any trade restriction without the political or punitive context.
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