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.
Hippler has also lifted a long-standing gag order, which means prosecutors, police and others connected to the case can continue to speak out and provide new information about the investigation. N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 24 July 2025 The court’s gag order, which was lifted Thursday, prevented attorneys in the case from making public statements. Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 17 July 2025 The order, also known as a gag order, banned police and prosecutors from speaking about the high-profile case that gripped the nation. Alex Stone, ABC News, 17 July 2025 His attorneys also filed a request for a gag order, citing widespread media coverage of the case. Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 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 29 Jul. 2025.

Legal Definition

gag order

see order sense 3b

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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