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.

---

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

---

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.

---

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

He went on to grant Maryland’s request for a preliminary injunction, blocking ICE from converting the warehouse for detention purposes while the lawsuit continues.

From Slate • Apr. 27, 2026

In a filing with an appeals court, the VA said that, regardless of the court’s injunction, its policy was to construct 750 to 800 units of temporary supportive housing on the campus by September.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

What’s Next: The court injunction could keep the deal in limbo for months as litigation unfolds and possibly throw a wet blanket on other transactions in the media.

From Barron's • Apr. 20, 2026

The preliminary injunction will take effect Tuesday, April 21.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

At Nixon’s order, the Justice Department went to the federal court in New York City to demand an injunction against the Times—a legal order to stop publication of the Pentagon Papers.

From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin

Related Words

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