Injunction

In one sentence

A court order telling someone to stop doing something or start doing something.

Plain English

An injunction is a court command that forces someone to act or refrain from acting. It's different from a money judgment because it doesn't award cash—it changes behavior. A restraining injunction stops someone from doing something (like breaking a non-compete clause), while a mandatory injunction forces them to do something (like remove a trespassing structure). Courts grant injunctions when money damages won't adequately fix the harm.

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Example

A former employee starts working for a competitor in violation of a non-compete agreement. The original employer gets a court injunction ordering the employee to stop working for the competitor immediately, even before the full lawsuit is decided.

Used in a sentence

“The court issued an injunction preventing the company from using the stolen trade secrets in its marketing campaign.”

Related terms

Specific Performance

A court order forcing someone to actually do what they promised in the contract.

Breach

A failure to do what a contract requires, such as not paying or not delivering.

Remedy

A legal action or payment a court awards to fix a harm or enforce a right after a breach.

Equitable Relief

A court remedy other than money, like ordering someone to do or stop doing something.

Offer

A proposal to enter into a binding agreement on specific terms.

Acceptance

Agreeing to the exact terms of an offer, creating a binding contract.

Consideration

Something of value exchanged by each party to make a contract binding.

Offeror

The person who makes an offer to enter into a contract.

This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change over time. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney.