restraining order

noun

Updated on: 18 Apr 2018

Definition of restraining order

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

See restraining order defined for English-language learners

Examples of restraining order in a Sentence

The judge issued a restraining order.

Recent Examples of restraining order from the Web

Federal courts have issued restraining orders keeping it active despite the expiration of the administration's six-month deadline for Congress to push through a DACA deal.

— maegan vazquez, CNN, "Immigrant 'caravan' heading to US-Mexico border sparks Trump's concern," 1 Apr. 2018
California is the only state with a database that cross references gun owners with people who have criminal convictions, restraining orders or serious mental health issues.

— CBS News, "California task force takes illegal guns off the street," 19 Mar. 2018
Walders filed paperwork on March 17, 2017 in San Diego Superior Court to request a civil harassment restraining order against Michael Sakell, 27, Walders’ graduate teaching assistant and student at the time, court records show.

— morgan cook, sandiegouniontribune.com, "SDSU choral studies director suspended with pay amid allegations of affair with student," 30 Mar. 2018
Those participating have three main demands for Congress—to ban assault weapons, require universal background checks prior to gun sales, and pass a gun violence restraining order law that serves as a red flag for violent behavior.

— alex scimecca, Fortune, "Student Walkout: See Photos of Students Protesting for Gun Control Across the Nation," 14 Mar. 2018
Under state law, local chiefs here have wide discretion in approving or denying gun license applications in addition to requiring that applicants clear a state background check, including having no felony convictions or restraining orders.

— matt stout, BostonGlobe.com, "Markey wants to get other states to adopt Mass. get-tough gun laws," 12 Mar. 2018
The Luzerne County judge’s restraining order includes a provision that Miccarelli must relinquish any guns within 24 hours of being served with a copy of the order.

— Philly.com, "Tighter security planned at Harrisburg Capitol after Miccarelli protection order," 10 Mar. 2018
Online court records show someone sought a domestic violence restraining order in 2016 against Chavez-Pina last year but then did not come to court.

— john diedrich, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Man in U.S. illegally agrees to pay IRS $1 million, leave country after pleading guilty to tax fraud," 20 Feb. 2018
Last month a Cole County judge refused to issue a restraining order prohibiting use of Confide or other text-destroying apps by the governor and his staff.

— jason hancock, kansascity, "Greitens’ staff banned from using Confide app for public business | The Kansas City Star," 20 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'restraining order.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of restraining order

1780

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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