preliminary injunction

noun | \ in-ˈjəŋk-shən \ | in·junc·tion

1. : 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 3b, damage, declaratory judgment at judgment 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