embargo meaning

embargo means 'to stop trade or movement of goods to a country'.

embargo :

ban, restriction

noun

▪ The country imposed an embargo on oil.

▪ The country put a ban on oil.

▪ There is an embargo on trade with that nation.

▪ There is a restriction on trade with that nation.

paraphrasing

▪ prohibition – ban

▪ blockade – restriction

embargo

embargo :

to ban, to restrict

verb

▪ They embargoed the export of goods.

▪ They banned the export of goods.

▪ The government embargoed all trade.

▪ The government restricted all trade.

paraphrasing

▪ ban – to restrict

▪ restrict – to limit

▪ prohibit – to stop

▪ forbid – to not allow

Pronunciation

embargo [ɛmˈbɑːrɡoʊ]

The stress is on 'bar' and sounds like 'em-bar-go'.

Common phrases and grammar about embargo

embargo - Common meaning

noun
ban, restriction
verb
to ban, to restrict

Part of Speech Changes for "embargo"

▪ embargoed (adjective) – banned or restricted

▪ embargoing (noun) – the act of banning or restricting

Common Expressions with "embargo"

▪ impose an embargo – to put a ban

▪ lift an embargo – to remove a ban

▪ trade embargo – a ban on trade

▪ oil embargo – a ban on oil trade

Important examples of embargo in TOEIC

Vocabulary examples from the TOEIC test

In TOEIC vocabulary questions, embargo often refers to a trade ban or restriction.

▪The government imposed an embargo on goods.
▪The government put a ban on goods.

Example of a confusing word: embark (to begin a journey)

▪The government embarked an embargo on goods.
▪The government began a journey on goods.
"Embargo" is a noun meaning "a ban or restriction on trade," typically imposed by a government. In the sentence "The government imposed an embargo on goods," the usage is correct and clear. "Embark," on the other hand, is a verb meaning "to begin a journey," and it requires a preposition like "on" when used transitively, as in "embark on a journey." Using "embark" in the context of imposing a trade restriction is grammatically incorrect and nonsensical. Therefore, "embargo" is the correct choice here.

Grammar examples from the TOEIC test

Embargo is used as both a noun and a verb in TOEIC questions, often related to trade restrictions.

▪They embargoed the sale of products.
▪They banned the sale of products.

embargo

Idioms and fixed expressions in TOEIC

oil embargo

'ban on oil trade', often used in economic contexts.

▪The oil embargo affected many countries.
▪The ban on oil trade affected many countries.

lift an embargo

means 'to remove a ban', often used in diplomatic contexts.

▪They decided to lift the embargo.
▪They decided to remove the ban.

Differences between similar words and embargo

embargo

,

blockade

differences

Embargo is a ban on trade, while blockade is a physical barrier to stop movement.

embargo
▪The country imposed an embargo on trade.
▪The country put a ban on trade.
blockade
▪The navy set up a blockade at the port.
▪The navy stopped ships at the port.

embargo

,

ban

differences

Embargo is often used for trade, while ban can be used for various prohibitions.

embargo
▪They imposed an embargo on oil exports.
▪The school did not allow cell phones.
ban
▪The school banned cell phones.
▪The school did not allow cell phones.

Words with the same origin as embargo

The origin of embargo

embargo comes from the Spanish 'embargar', meaning to stop or block.

Word structure

It has the prefix em (in), root barg (bar), suffix o (noun/verb), and means 'to bar in'.

Words with the same origin

The root of embargo is barg (bar). Words with the same root include bar (to block), barrier (a block).

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