restraining order

noun

1

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

2

: 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

Cornell law professor Robert Hockett expects the court to act quickly on the restraining order request, and believes there's a good chance Cook can take part in the Fed's Sept. 16-17 meeting. —Bailey Schulz, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2025

Cook responded with a lawsuit Thursday, arguing that her dismissal lacked legal justification and requesting a restraining order to remain in her post. —Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Aug. 2025

Nothing says marital harmony like a construction site restraining order. —David Hochman, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025

In January, Megan won a five-year civil harassment restraining order barring Peterson from making any statements about her. —Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1780, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for restraining order

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

Legal Definition

restraining order

see order sense 3b