A sanction is a negative legal consequence imposed by an authority, public or private, to a natural person or legal entity that has failed to comply with a mandatory rule. The purpose of the sanction may be punitive, corrective, preventive or compensatory, depending on the regulatory area in which it is applied.

In the field of Law, sanctions can be classified according to the legal branch to which they belong:.

• - Criminal law: Imposes sanctions such as imprisonment, fines, disqualification, etc.

• - Administrative sanctioning law"): Applies sanctions for administrative infractions, such as fines, closures or suspensions, in exercise of the police power") of the State.

• - Disciplinary Law"): Regulates the sanctions applicable to public officials or members of institutions for violations of internal duties.

• - Civil law: Provided for in some cases, such as penal clauses, compensation for damages or procedural sanctions for abuse of law.

• - Parental authority: It may entail disciplinary sanctions within the framework of family relationships, within the established legal limits.

The systematic study of these sanctions and their common principles is addressed in the so-called sanction law, a transversal category that covers various legal regimes in which the sanctioning power is applied, guaranteeing principles such as legality, due process, proportionality and typicality.

In international law, a "sanction" is called an economic, diplomatic, or military measure that a State takes unilaterally, to the detriment of another State, alleging non-compliance with one or more obligations.

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• - Criminal law.

• - Crime.