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gag order

noun

: a judicial ruling barring public disclosure or discussion (as by the press) of information related to a case
broadly : a similar nonjudicial prohibition against the release of confidential information or against public discussion of a sensitive matter

Examples of gag order in a Sentence

The judge has issued a gag 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.
The Norfolk District Attorney's office had asked for the gag order saying witnesses were being harassed. Matt Schooley, CBS News, 14 Nov. 2025 Despite Burstein’s past victories for Minaj—including the dismissal of a $20 million suit in 2022 and a 2024 case that led to a gag order—the rapper now finds herself without her key legal defender. Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 14 Nov. 2025 Produced before the gag order was lifted, the four-part docuseries One Night in Idaho turns its focus to the families, friends and community members still wrestling with the aftermath, offering a piercing look at a case with many unanswered questions. James Mercadante, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025 In December, a Lonoke County judge issued a gag order that banned lawyers, Spencer’s family and others connected to the case from speaking publicly about it, saying widespread media coverage could affect the jury pool. Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gag order

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gag order was in 1906

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gag order.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gag%20order. Accessed 1 Dec. 2025.

Legal Definition

gag order

see order sense 3b

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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