cease-and-desist order

American

[sees-uhn-di-zist, -sist] / ˈsis ən dɪˈzɪst, -ˈsɪst /

noun

an order by a government agency to a person or corporation to terminate a business practice found by the agency to be illegal or unfair.

Etymology

Origin of cease-and-desist order

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

cease-and-desist order

When threats didn’t work, the commission in 2024 slapped Levy with a cease-and-desist order, which started the process of full-blown enforcement.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 16, 2026

The bank also agreed to a cease-and-desist order from the Federal Reserve in 2024, which it characterized as similar to actions taken against others in the industry and said would not affect its business.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 17, 2026

That podcast episode was removed, Roosa wrote, after Henley allegedly served a cease-and-desist order.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 21, 2025

The FTC could take a drugmaker to court to seek a cease-and-desist order.

From Salon ● Feb. 2, 2024

"On the other side, you'll find a cease-and-desist order."

From The Status Civilization by Robert Sheckley

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023