1. A prohibition on trading with a country, generally or in some particular goods. A general embargo is intended as an expression of disapproval, for example of practices such as apartheid in South Africa; an embargo on particular products is generally based on defence considerations, to prevent the spread of advanced weaponry, for example during the Iraq–Iran war in the 1980s.

2. A prohibition on releasing or quoting published material until some deadline. This is generally intended to avoid political embarrassment or opportunities for insider trading by synchronizing the release of information through various channels.