injunction

American  

[in-juhngk-shuhn] / ɪnˈdʒʌŋk ʃən /

noun

1. Law. a judicial process or order requiring the person or persons to whom it is directed to do a particular act or to refrain from doing a particular act.

2. an act or instance of enjoining.

3. a command; order; admonition.

   the injunctions of the Lord.

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injunction British  

/ ɪnˈdʒʌŋkʃən /

noun

1. law an instruction or order issued by a court to a party to an action, esp to refrain from some act, such as causing a nuisance

2. a command, admonition, etc

3. the act of enjoining

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injunction Cultural  

1. A court order that either compels or restrains an act by an individual, organization, or government official. In labor – management relations, injunctions have been used to prevent workers from going on strike.

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Other Word Forms

• injunctive
  adjective
• injunctively
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of injunction

1520–30; < Late Latin injunctiōn- (stem of injunctiō ), equivalent to Latin injunct ( us ) (past participle of injungere to join to; see enjoin) + -iōn- -ion

Explanation

If your school begins building a swimming pool on land that does not belong to it, the city might issue an injunction to stop it. An injunction is an official order issued by a judge. In general, injunctions are court ordered settlements or commands. In the United States, judges cannot create laws, but they can require someone to do something or to stop doing something. If you were wrongly fired from a job, a court may issue an injunction to your former employer, requiring him or her to hire you back or pay your back salary.

Example Sentences

“The Government was thus already on notice that such a statement delivered in this environment is precisely the kind of inappropriate persuasion the Injunction sought to prevent,” Fitzgerald wrote.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2026

"Rather, they were imposed to punish Apple for purported non-compliance with an earlier state-law Injunction that is itself invalid," Apple wrote.

From BBC • May 8, 2025

“The cumulative burden of the Preliminary Injunction is quite significant,” he said.

From Scientific American • Feb. 22, 2022

“The cumulative burden of the Preliminary Injunction is quite significant,” he added.

From Washington Post • Feb. 21, 2022

Classical authors, however, and works hitherto commonly received in universities and schools were not touched by the Injunction.

From The Story of Books by Rawlings, Gertrude Burford

Related Words

• admonition
• ban
• embargo
• instruction
• mandate
• prohibition
• ruling
• writ