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
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.
Civil lawsuits or restraining orders – The person tracked could sue or seek court protection. Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2025 Other state laws impact employer access to restraining orders against abusers, employee access to unemployment benefits, and other workplace policies. Michelle Travis, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025 That same month, Rubio announced visa revocations on Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who presided over Bolsonaro's criminal case, and his unspecified allies on the court after the court issued search warrants and restraining orders against Bolsonaro. Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 12 Sep. 2025 Conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh argued that the previous restraining order issued in Los Angeles greatly limited the work of immigration agents. Mya Abraham, VIBE.com, 10 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for restraining order

Word History

First Known Use

1780, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of restraining order was in 1780

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Cite this Entry

“Restraining order.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/restraining%20order. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.

Legal Definition

restraining order

see order sense 3b

More from Merriam-Webster on restraining order

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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