enjoinder: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal; primarily legal.
Quick answer
What does “enjoinder” mean?
A formal order or command from a court, especially one requiring a person to do or refrain from doing a specific act.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A formal order or command from a court, especially one requiring a person to do or refrain from doing a specific act.
The act of enjoining; a strongly worded urging or admonishment. Can be used more broadly in formal contexts to denote an authoritative instruction or directive.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage, though it may be slightly more common in American legal writing.
Connotations
Strongly associated with judicial authority and binding legal obligation.
Frequency
Very low-frequency word in both varieties, almost exclusively confined to legal contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “enjoinder” in a Sentence
seek an enjoinder against [person/entity]issue an enjoinder [to do/from doing something]be subject to an enjoinderVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “enjoinder” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The judge will enjoin the company from disposing of the assets.
- The court enjoined the publication of the confidential report.
American English
- The court enjoined the strike action pending further review.
- They sought to enjoin the enforcement of the new regulation.
adverb
British English
- The company acted enjoiningly upon receipt of the order.
American English
- The parties must comply enjoiningly with the court's mandate.
adjective
British English
- The enjoining order was issued promptly.
- He was subject to an enjoining directive.
American English
- The enjoining power of the court is well established.
- An enjoining judgment halted construction.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; might appear in a legal department discussing a court order to stop a competitor's action.
Academic
Used in law journals and texts discussing judicial remedies.
Everyday
Extremely unlikely.
Technical
Core term in legal proceedings, specifically equity and civil procedure.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “enjoinder”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “enjoinder”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “enjoinder”
- Confusing 'enjoinder' with 'injunction' (they are near-synonyms, but 'injunction' is far more common). Mispronouncing as /enˈdʒɔɪ.ndər/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Injunction' is the much more common and general term for a court order commanding or prohibiting an action. 'Enjoinder' is a rarer, more formal synonym, often used in specific legal contexts or older texts.
Very rarely. It might appear in extremely formal writing to mean a forceful urging or admonition, but this usage is archaic and not recommended for general communication.
It is exclusively a noun.
No. It is a C2-level, very low-frequency word used almost entirely by legal professionals and in legal documents.
A formal order or command from a court, especially one requiring a person to do or refrain from doing a specific act.
Enjoinder is usually formal; primarily legal. in register.
Enjoinder: in British English it is pronounced /ɪnˈdʒɔɪn.dər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɛnˈdʒɔɪn.dər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this word.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: ENJOY + REMINDER. To enjoy your rights, you might need a court REMINDER (an enjoinder) telling someone not to interfere.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE LAW IS A BINDING FORCE (e.g., 'bound by the court's enjoinder').
Practice
Quiz
An 'enjoinder' is most closely related to which of the following concepts?