Preliminary injunction

What preliminary injunction means

In short, preliminary injunction is a term you will meet in court papers, rules and legal research. The definition above gives its usual meaning in American civil practice. However, the exact meaning can depend on the rule, statute or court decision that uses it. So it helps to read the term in context.

Where preliminary injunction comes up

For example, the term appears in these procedures:

• Motion for a Preliminary Injunction (Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(a)): a request for an order that preserves the situation while the case is decided.

How to research the term

First, read the term where it actually appears. A rule, statute or court decision may define it for its own purposes. Next, check whether your court has a local rule that uses preliminary injunction in a special way. Then look at recent decisions from courts in your jurisdiction. They show how judges apply the term today. Also, remember that state law can differ from federal law. For that reason, use our state procedures guide to find your state’s rules. Finally, confirm every source is current before you rely on it.

You can read the official rule text online for free.

Related legal terms

• Injunction: a court order requiring a party to do or stop doing something.
• Equitable relief: non-monetary remedies a court may order, such as an injunction or specific performance.
• Equity: the body of law, historically administered by courts of chancery, that provides remedies such as injunctions and specific performance.

Why precise terms matter

Legal words often look like everyday words, but they can carry a precise meaning. Because of that, a small misreading can change how you understand a deadline, a duty or a right. Our glossary keeps each definition short and links it to the procedures where it matters.