restraining order

American

noun

Law.

a judicial order to forbid a particular act until a decision is reached on an application for an injunction.

restraining order British

noun

law an order issued by a civil court to a potential abuser to keep away from those named in the order

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

restraining orders

plural

Etymology

Origin of restraining order

First recorded in 1875–80

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:

restraining order

Attorneys for Pro Silver Star sent the band a cease-and-desist letter on Thursday, the filing states, and a copy of the petition for the restraining order and injunction on Friday.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 26, 2026

A livid Kruger obtained a temporary restraining order against Cienfuegos.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

US District Judge Jennifer Rochon issued a temporary restraining order, preventing the administration from creating or airing such ads for 14 days.

From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026

The latest courtroom clash comes after a temporary restraining order was granted against Seaver on Sept. 22.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 12, 2026

“This is a restraining order forbidding you from working at T. J. Raney High School.”

From "The Lions of Little Rock" by Kristin Levine

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