embargo
embargo Lexical Profile
embargo Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An official ban or restriction on trade or other commercial activity with a particular country, or on the exchange of specific goods.
"The international community imposed a strict trade embargo on the nation until diplomatic negotiations resumed."
An official order or agreement forbidding the publication or broadcast of specific news or information until a specified time.
"Journalists were given advance copies of the economic report under a strict embargo until Friday morning."
An official order by a state forbidding merchant vessels or aircraft from entering or leaving its ports.
"During the maritime dispute, the port authority placed an immediate embargo on all foreign cargo ships."
• verb
To impose an official ban on trade, commerce, or the movement of specific goods.
"The coalition voted to embargo oil exports until the treaty obligations were met."
To officially restrict the publication or broadcast of news, scientific findings, or official documents until a specified date and time.
"The medical journal decided to embargo the research paper until Tuesday's press conference."
To officially seize, detain, or requisition vessels or property for state service.
"Port authorities moved to embargo the unregistered freighter and its cargo for customs inspection."
Word Nuance & Usage
In journalism and public relations, an embargo refers specifically to a temporary ban on publishing press releases or official data until a designated date and time, rather than a permanent censorship order.
• Rhymes for embargo
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 16th century from Spanish embargo ('seizure, arrest, or hindrance'), from the verb embargar ('to bar or restrain'), ultimately from Vulgar Latin *imbarricare ('to bar in'), derived from *barra ('bar, barrier').