embargo - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
embargo Word Meanings
- a government order restricting trade with a particular country.
- a prohibition on commerce or trade.
- an official ban on something.
embargo Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
embargo Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ɛmˈbɑːɡəʊ/
US
/ɪmˈbɑrɡoʊ/
embargo Word Etymology
em- = cause to, bar = obstruct. Latin → Spanish → English. Imagine a ship stopping at sea due to legal restrictions, preventing it from trading – visualize a ship anchored and its cargo locked away from trade.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputReal Context
An embargo is a government order that blocks trade with a particular country or limits the movement of goods and services across borders. Embargoes can be broad, prohibiting most commerce with an entire state, or targeted, focusing on specific products, industries, or people. They are typically used for political reasons, national security concerns, or to pressure a government without resorting to war. Unlike generic sanctions, an embargo is a formal legal restriction that often requires countries to refuse shipments and to enforce export controls. People may talk about embargoes in relation to oil, weapons, or consumer goods, and the word can also appear in informal phrases like trade embargoes.
Usage Reminders
- Use embargo with on/against; not as a verb; it is a government action; typically followed by 'on' a country or goods; distinguish from sanctions; discuss its impact on trade and prices; avoid casual 'embargo' in everyday shopping.
Common Misconceptions
- An embargo is the same as a sanction and always a full ban.
- Embargoes are temporary and easy to lift.
- Only countries can impose embargoes, not organizations.
- An embargo applies to personal freedoms, not just trade.
- All embargo news mean a country is isolated from the world.
Thinking Differences
Learners may picture embargo as a warlike blockade rather than a formal trade restriction; English often frames it as a legal action with specific scope (country vs. goods) and usage with prepositions like on or with respect to. Common slips include mixing up sanctions and embargoes or assuming it always means a complete halt.
Learning Tips
- Study common collocations: embargo on/on goods, embargo on a country.
- Differentiate embargo from sanctions and boycott.
- Note prepositions: embargo on, embargo against.
- Follow real-news examples to see policy language.
- Learn common related terms: sanctions, blockade, export controls.
- Practice with multiple countries to see variation in scope.
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What is the meaning of 'embargo'?
A.A barrier
B.A shipment
C.A price
D.A restriction
Step 2: Usage
Which of the following sentences uses 'embargo' correctly?
A.He received an embargo of flowers.
B.The embargo on trade was lifted.
C.She bought an embargo of books.
D.The embargo sky was clear.
Step 3: Similar Words
What is a possible synonym for 'embargo'?
A.Ban
B.Increase
C.Encourage
D.Expand
Step 4: Opposite Words
What is a possible antonym for 'embargo'?
A.Forbid
B.Prohibit
C.Disallow
D.Permission
Step 5: Mastery
In what real-life context might you encounter an embargo?
A.Studying math
B.Baking a cake
C.Skiing in the Alps
D.International trade relations
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