restraining order

noun

: a preliminary legal order sometimes issued to keep a situation unchanged pending decision upon an application for an injunction

: a legal order issued against an individual to restrict or prohibit access or proximity to another specified individual

Examples of restraining order in a Sentence

The judge issued a restraining order.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Jabbar’s second wife filed for divorce in 2020 and was granted a restraining order against him, NBC News reported—the case was dismissed, but the couple later got divorced in 2022. —

Siladitya Ray, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025 Advertisement Early last year, Reeves filed for a temporary restraining order against a man who allegedly trespassed on the actor’s property at least six times between November 2022 and January 2023. —

Russ Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 29 Dec. 2024 Gaetz on Monday tried to block the report's official release, filing for a restraining order in Washington, D.C., federal court. —

Josh Meyer, USA TODAY, 23 Dec. 2024 Brie and Jack chat with Charmaine at the beauty salon, where Brie gathers enough evidence for the restraining order. —

Sara Netzley, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for restraining order

Word History

First Known Use

1780, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of restraining order was in 1780

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Restraining order.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/restraining%20order. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.

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