embargo

[ em-bahr-goh ]
/ ɛmˈbɑr goʊ /

noun, plural em·bar·goes.

an order of a government prohibiting the movement of merchant ships into or out of its ports.
an injunction from a government commerce agency to refuse freight for shipment, as in case of congestion or insufficient facilities.
any restriction imposed upon commerce by edict.
a restraint or hindrance; prohibition.

verb (used with object), em·bar·goed, em·bar·go·ing.

to impose an embargo on.

Origin of embargo

1595–1605; < Spanish, derivative of embargar to hinder, embarrass < Vulgar Latin *imbarricāre, equivalent to im- im-1 + -barricāre ( *barr(a) bar1 + -icāre causative suffix)

SYNONYMS FOR embargo

4 ban, restriction, interdiction, postscription.

OTHER WORDS FROM embargo

pre·em·bar·go, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH embargo

boycott embargo

Example sentences from the Web for embargo

British Dictionary definitions for embargo

embargo
/ (ɛmˈbɑːɡəʊ) /

noun plural -goes

a government order prohibiting the departure or arrival of merchant ships in its ports
any legal stoppage of commerce an embargo on arms shipments
a restraint, hindrance, or prohibition

verb -goes, -going or -goed (tr)

to lay an embargo upon
to seize for use by the state

Word Origin for embargo

C16: from Spanish, from embargar, from Latin im- + barra bar 1

Cultural definitions for embargo

embargo

A governmental restriction on trade for political purposes. The objective is to put pressure on other governments by prohibiting exports to or imports from those countries.