injunction

noun

in·​junc·​tion in-ˈjəŋ(k)-shən 

1

: a writ granted by a court of equity whereby one is required to do or to refrain from doing a specified act

2

: the act or an instance of enjoining : order, admonition

injunctive

in-ˈjəŋ(k)-tiv 

adjective

Did you know?

Injunction, injunction, what’s your function? When it first joined the English language in the 1400s, injunction referred to an authoritative command, and in the following century it developed a legal second sense applying specifically to a court order. Both of these meanings are still in use. Injunction ultimately comes from the Latin verb injungere (“to enjoin,” i.e., to issue an authoritative command or order), which in turn is based on jungere, meaning “to join”: it is joined as a jungere descendant by several words including junction, conjunction, enjoin, and join.

Synonyms

• behest
• charge
• command
• commandment
• decree
• dictate
• direction
• directive
• do
• edict
• imperative
• instruction
• order
• word

Examples of injunction in a Sentence

The group has obtained an injunction to prevent the demolition of the building.

in the cult there were injunctions for and against everything, as nothing was a matter of personal choice

Recent Examples on the Web

While a full repeal is unlikely, Congress could codify clearer standards for which decisions are subject to environmental reviews, establish uniform procedures, and define the extent of judicial review, including placing limits on judicial injunctions. —James Broughel, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2025

Judge Jackson will hold a hearing on February 26 at 10:00am to consider imposing a preliminary injunction. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 16 Feb. 2025

The judge scheduled a hearing on Feb. 26 in Knoxville, Tenn., for a potential injunction. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 14 Feb. 2025

The judge lifted a pause on buyouts issued last week and denied the plaintiffs' request for an injunction, allowing the Trump administration to move forward with the buyouts. —Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 13 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English injunccion, from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French enjunxion, from Late Latin injunction-, injunctio, from Latin injungere to enjoin — more at enjoin

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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Kids Definition

injunction

noun

in·​junc·​tion in-ˈjəŋ(k)-shən 

: a court order commanding or forbidding the doing of some act

an injunction against the strike

Legal Definition

injunction

noun

in·​junc·​tion in-ˈjəŋk-shən 

: an equitable remedy in the form of a court order compelling a party to do or refrain from doing a specified act compare cease-and-desist order at order sense 3b, damage, declaratory judgment at judgment sense 1a, mandamus, specific performance at performance, stay

Note: An injunction is available as a remedy for harm for which there is no adequate remedy at law. Thus it is used to prevent a future harmful action rather than to compensate for an injury that has already occurred, or to provide relief from harm for which an award of money damages is not a satisfactory solution or for which a monetary value is impossible to calculate. A defendant who violates an injunction is subject to penalty for contempt.

— affirmative injunction

: an injunction requiring a positive act on the part of the defendant : mandatory injunction in this entry

— final injunction

: permanent injunction in this entry

— interlocutory injunction

: an injunction that orders the maintenance of the status quo between the parties prior to a final determination of the matter

specifically : preliminary injunction in this entry

— mandatory injunction

: an injunction that compels the defendant to do some positive act rather than simply to maintain the situation as it was when the action was brought compare prohibitory injunction in this entry

— permanent injunction

: an injunction imposed after a hearing and remaining in force at least until the defendant has complied with its provisions

called also final injunction, perpetual injunction

— preliminary injunction

: an interlocutory injunction issued before a trial for purposes of preventing the defendant from acting in a way that will irreparably harm the plaintiff's ability to enforce his or her rights at the trial

called also temporary injunction

compare temporary restraining order at order

Note: Before a preliminary injunction can be issued, there must be a hearing with prior notice to the defendant. Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 65, the hearing and the trial may be consolidated.

— prohibitory injunction

: an injunction that prohibits the defendant from taking a particular action and maintains the positions of the parties until there is a hearing to determine the matter in dispute

— temporary injunction

: preliminary injunction in this entry

Etymology

Middle French injonction, from Late Latin injunction-, injunctio, from Latin injungere to enjoin, from in- in + jungere to join