An injunction is a legal order that requires a person or entity to stop or refrain from a specific action, often used to prevent harm, protect rights, or maintain the status quo in various business-related disputes or issues.
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Last Updated: December 9, 2025
The definition of “injunction” is “a writ granted by a court of equity whereby one is required to do or to refrain from doing a specified act.” Another injunction definition is “an official order given by a court that demands that something must or must not be done.” Because there are different types of injunctions, however, “injunction” can have several meanings depending on the situation.
There are three main types of injunctions: temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions, and permanent injunctions.
A temporary restraining order (TRO) is a short-term injunction that serves as a stopgap measure while the court prepares a more lasting action. Courts can enact temporary restraining orders with relatively little legal process or notice, but TROs cannot last more than a week or two.
Preliminary injunctions are more lasting than TROs. To impose a preliminary injunction, a court must typically have a proceeding of some kind and give notice to the opposing party. In federal court, a party that seeks to have a temporary injunction must show that they are likely to prevail in their case. They need to also demonstrate that they’ll suffer “irreparable injury” without the injunction that is more severe than whatever injury the injunction will inflict on the other party.
Finally, there are permanent injunctions. Obtaining a permanent injunction is, understandably, the most difficult. In federal court, the requesting party must prove several specific factors.
As an equitable remedy, injunctions have both advantages and disadvantages. A small business owner should take a moment to understand these traits in the event they find themselves in a legal dispute.
An injunction’s primary advantage is its flexibility. Because it can be temporary or permanent, it can be useful in several different situations. Unlike other remedies (like monetary damages), courts can also rescind injunctions according to changing circumstances. Finally, because it is a form of equitable relief, injunctions can be used more freely by courts than a legal remedy (i.e., monetary damages).
Using an injunction carries disadvantages as well. For one, courts generally use injunctions only to prevent a party from doing something. Aside from specific performance, where a court forces a party to fulfill a contractual obligation, it is more difficult to use an injunction to force another party to do something. Also, parties may have only a limited amount of time to petition the court for an injunction. And it can be difficult to successfully obtain an injunction, especially a permanent injunction.
Injunctions are a remedy used by courts to prevent a party from doing some act. Depending on the situation, injunctions can be temporary or permanent.
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Understanding injunctions is just one aspect of a business owner’s life (and in an ideal world, a business owner won’t even need to worry about them). But when a business owner faces (or even pursues) an injunction, they may feel like there’s too much paperwork to deal with at once.
While ZenBusiness can’t handle legal proceedings for injunctions, they can help manage other business tasks that suck up a business owner’s valuable time. From filing paperwork to form a business to maintaining a registered agent or getting the necessary business licenses and permits, ZenBusiness has a product or service to help navigate the red tape.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. For specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
Written by ZenBusiness Editorial Team
The ZenBusiness Editorial Team has more than 20 years of combined small business publishing experience and has helped over 850,000 entrepreneurs launch and grow their companies. The team’s writers and business formation experts are dedicated to providing accurate, practical, and trustworthy guidance so business owners can make confident decisions.
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