noun

embargo

ihm-BAH-goh

noun

An official ban on trade with a particular country.

"The United Nations imposed an embargo on arms sales to the region."

"The trade embargo cut off nearly all imports overnight."

A temporary official ban on releasing certain information to the public.

"Journalists agreed to an embargo on the report until Monday morning."

verb

To officially ban trade with a country, or to ban the release of information.

"The government embargoed all oil exports to the country."

How to Use Embargo

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn official block — most often on trading with a country, but also used for holding back news until a set release time.

Common pairings

impose an embargo lift an embargo trade embargo under embargo

embargoed past tense, embargoes plural, embargos plural, embargoes singular

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The United Nations imposed an _____ on arms sales to the region.

From Spanish embargar, "to seize or restrain", ultimately from a Latin root meaning "to bar".

Argo largo cargo margo Fargo