To save this word, you'll need to log in.
Definition of cease and desist
formal
: to stop (doing something) immediately
The company was ordered by the court to cease and desist from selling the photographs.
Comments on cease and desist
What made you want to look up cease and desist? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
A More Exception(al) Quiz
- Which of the following words is not a synonym for ‘a young person’?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Share cease and desist