English Lexicon

Embargo

/ɛmˈbɑːr.ɡoʊ/
nounCEFR C1 (Advanced)Top #1500 frequency
Full Thesaurus

Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A government order that restricts or prohibits trade with a specific country or the exchange of specific goods.

    "The government imposed an embargo on the export of weapons to the conflict zone."
  2. 2

    A restriction or prohibition on a particular activity or action.

    "The university placed an embargo on the publication of the research findings until further review."

Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum

Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The word 'embargo' originates from the Spanish term 'embargar', which means 'to seize' or 'to hinder'. It entered the English language in the early 17th century, reflecting the practice of restricting trade or movement, particularly in a political context.

Quick Vocabulary Retention Check

Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Embargo"?

Thesaurus & Synonyms Graph

Explore Nuanced Synonyms for "Embargo"

Discover exact matches, context-specific alternatives, and antonyms with intensity ratings in the VocabDictionary Thesaurus.

View "Embargo" Synonym Map