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Glite Dictionary
gag order

gag order

19 7.2
A court rule that stops people from talking about a case to the public
  • noun
  • /ɡæɡ ˈɔrdər/
  • Literature
translation icon : orden de silencio
  • The DA'S office has filed a gag order.
  • gag order that prohibits

Donnie Trump, Donnie T Donnie Trump, He had that the partial gag order that we've been talking about.

Examples

  • Such letters come with a gag order, too, preventing the financial institution from informing the individual whose records are being investigated.

    Academic text (2004)

  • The judge in the case has put a gag order on the case.

  • The hearing on the gag order is coming up on Friday.

    Blog text (1)

  • But for now, the order, the gag order says Trump is not allowed to respond.

  • At one hearing, the tribunal imposed a gag order, prohibiting him from speaking with the press.

    Academic text (1995)

  • I was just explaining to Jeff they got a Kentucky court... to issue a gag order to stop his deposition today.

    The Insider (1999)

  • Born, who specializes in adoption and assisted reproduction law, is like everybody connected with the case, under a gag order.

    Academic text (2011)

  • Once the Family Secrets trial ended and the gag order was lifted, Lopez resumed his posting at the Chicago Syndicate.

    Academic text (2008)

  • The post appeared after Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Larry Fidler issued a gag order, forbidding Rachelle Spector from giving television interviews.

    Academic text (2008)

  • The judge has placed a gag order on the attorneys and the witnesses in the case.

Synonyms

court order
vsgag order
  • Formal
108 3.5

An official instruction from a court telling someone to do or stop doing something

is the specific legal rule that limits talking about a particular case
injunction
vsgag order
  • Formal
78 8.0

An order from a court that stops someone from doing something

is narrower, restricting speech and comments about a case rather than actions
cease and desist order
vsgag order
  • Formal
4 7.9

A court order telling someone to stop a certain action

targets stopping disclosure and public comment rather than general activities

Antonyms

comment
∞ 1.0

A remark that gives an opinion or extra information

disclosure
176 4.1

Making secret or new information known to others

Surface Forms

gag order singular
gag orders plural

Morphology

gag + order

The meaning is directly derivable from combining 'gag' (to suppress speech) with 'order' (an official command): together they denote an official command to suppress disclosure or public comment. This is a straightforward compositional noun phrase following common patterns and is likely clear to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

The term gag order comes from the picture of a gag, a cloth or device put over someone's mouth to stop them speaking. A court's gag order does the same thing in law: it 'stops' people from talking or giving information about a case.