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

Prosecutors had argued a gag order was needed to ensure that Detwiler’s trial was not prejudiced in Detwiler’s favor, that everyone involved in prosecution remain safe and to prevent Detwiler from profiting off his case. —Evan Mealins, Nashville Tennessean, 8 Dec. 2025

And in an even rarer move, a judge issued a gag order that prevented authorities from publicly discussing it. —Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025

In a statement released Friday, the nuns said the provost's offer is nothing short of a gag order. —Esme Nicholson, NPR, 1 Dec. 2025

The Norfolk District Attorney's office had asked for the gag order saying witnesses were being harassed. —Matt Schooley, CBS News, 14 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for gag order

• camcorder
• disorder
• recorder
• reorder
• suborder
• transborder
• boarder
• border
• corder
• warder

Legal Definition

gag order

see order sense 3b