cease-and-desist
adjective /ˌsiːs ən dɪˈzɪst/, /ˌsiːs ən dɪˈsɪst/
/ˌsiːs ən dɪˈzɪst/, /ˌsiːs ən dɪˈsɪst/
[only before noun] (US English, law)- used to describe an official order given by a court or government agency that demands that somebody must stop doing a particular activity
- The Board of Health issued a cease-and-desist order giving the company seven days to stop operating at the site.
- used to describe a letter that threatens somebody with legal action if they do not stop a particular activity
- Lawyers for the company have sent out cease-and-desist letters to hundreds of small companies accused of infringing copyright.