Enjoin vs. Join — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 1, 2024
Enjoin refers to a legal mandate or command, typically issued by a court, whereas join means to become a part of something or to connect with others.
Difference Between Enjoin and Join
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Enjoin involves a legal authority or court issuing a directive that mandates or prohibits specific actions, whereas join refers to the act of linking or becoming part of a group, organization, or assembly.
Enjoin is primarily used in legal and formal contexts, often relating to injunctions, while join is used in a wide range of social, technological, and material contexts.
The term enjoin conveys an imposition of authority, compelling someone to act or refrain from acting, whereas join implies a voluntary association or combination of elements.
In legal terms, enjoin might prevent an action, like stopping construction due to a legal challenge, on the other hand, join can refer to merging entities such as companies or materials like in carpentry.
Enjoin can also carry moral or ethical connotations, urging someone to perform or desist from certain behaviors, while join simply indicates the act of becoming part of a larger whole without implying any moral imperative.
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Comparison Chart
Usage Context
Legal, formal
Social, technological, general
Connotation
Directive, mandatory
Voluntary, cooperative
Typical Applications
Legal injunctions, commands
Group memberships, assemblies, connections
Implication of Authority
Yes, implies authority imposing a requirement
No, implies a choice to unite or connect
Common Settings
Courts, legal documents
Social groups, meetings, construction, technology
Compare with Definitions
Enjoin
To legally prohibit or command.
The court enjoined the company from using the trademark.
Join
To participate or take part in.
He joined the discussion with enthusiasm.
Enjoin
To attach, as in legal proceedings.
The plaintiff was enjoined as a necessary party to the lawsuit.
Join
To meet or come together at a point.
The two rivers join just north of the city.
Enjoin
To direct or impose with authority.
The leader enjoined obedience from his followers.
Join
To connect or link together.
They used a rope to join the two boats.
Enjoin
To prescribe a course of action with authority.
The regulations enjoin specific safety measures.
Join
To unite for a common purpose.
The companies joined forces to market the product.
Enjoin
To urge or advise earnestly.
She enjoined him to act with caution.
Join
Link; connect
The tap was joined to a pipe
Join the paragraphs together
Enjoin
Instruct or urge (someone) to do something
The code enjoined members to trade fairly
Join
A place or line where two or more things are connected or fastened together
It was soldered so well that you couldn't see the join
Enjoin
To direct (a person) to do something; order or urge
The doctor enjoined the patient to walk daily.
Join
To put or bring together so as to make continuous or form a unit
Join two boards with nails.
Joined hands in a circle.
Enjoin
To require or impose (an action or behavior, for example) with authority and emphasis; prescribe.
Join
To put or bring into close association or relationship
Two families that were joined by marriage.
Join forces.
Enjoin
To prohibit or forbid
The judge enjoined the merger of the firms. The court enjoined the company from merging with its competitor.
Join
To connect (points), as with a straight line.
Enjoin
To lay upon, as an order or command; to give an injunction to; to direct with authority; to order; to charge.
Join
To meet and merge with
Where the creek joins the river.
Enjoin
(transitive) To prescribe under authority; to ordain.
Join
To become a part or member of
Joined the photography club.
Enjoin
To prohibit or restrain by a judicial order or decree; to put an injunction on.
Join
To come into the company of
Joined the group in the waiting room.
Enjoin
To lay upon, as an order or command; to give an injunction to; to direct with authority; to order; to charge.
High matter thou enjoin'st me.
I am enjoined by oath to observe three things.
Join
To participate with in an act or activity
The committee joins me in welcoming you.
Enjoin
To prohibit or restrain by a judicial order or decree; to put an injunction on.
This is a suit to enjoin the defendants from disturbing the plaintiffs.
Join
To adjoin
Where the garage joins the house.
Enjoin
To join or unite.
Join
To engage in; enter into
Opposing armies joined battle on the plain.
Enjoin
Issue an injunction
Join
To come together so as to form a connection
Where the two bones join.
Enjoin
Give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority;
I said to him to go home
She ordered him to do the shopping
The mother told the child to get dressed
Join
To act together; form an alliance
The two factions joined to oppose the measure.
Join
To become a member of a group.
Join
To take part; participate
Joined in the search.
Join
A joint; a junction.
Join
An intersection of piping or wiring; an interconnect.
Join
An intersection of data in two or more database tables.
Join
(computing) The act of joining something, such as a network.
Join
(algebra) The lowest upper bound, an operation between pairs of elements in a lattice, denoted by the symbol ∨.
Join
(transitive) To connect or combine into one; to put together.
The plumber joined the two ends of the broken pipe.
We joined our efforts to get an even better result.
Join
(intransitive) To come together; to meet.
Parallel lines never join.
These two rivers join in about 80 miles.
Join
(intransitive) To enter into association or alliance, to unite in a common purpose.
Join
(transitive) To come into the company of.
I will join you watching the football game as soon as I have finished my work.
Join
(transitive) To become a member of.
Many children join a sports club.
Most politicians have joined a party.
Join
To produce an intersection of data in two or more database tables.
By joining the Customer table on the Product table, we can show each customer's name alongside the products they have ordered.
Join
To unite in marriage.
Join
To enjoin upon; to command.
Join
To accept, or engage in, as a contest.
To join encounter, battle, or issue
Join
To bring together, literally or figuratively; to place in contact; to connect; to couple; to unite; to combine; to associate; to add; to append.
Woe unto them that join house to house.
Held up his left hand, which did flame and burnLike twenty torches joined.
Thy tuneful voice with numbers join.
Join
To associate one's self to; to be or become connected with; to league one's self with; to unite with; as, to join a party; to join the church.
We jointly now to join no other head.
Join
To unite in marriage.
He that joineth his virgin in matrimony.
What, therefore, God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
Join
To enjoin upon; to command.
They join them penance, as they call it.
Join
To accept, or engage in, as a contest; as, to join encounter, battle, issue.
Join
To meet with and accompany; as, we joined them at the restaurant.
Join
To combine with (another person) in performing some activity; as, join me in welcoming our new president.
Join
To be contiguous, close, or in contact; to come together; to unite; to mingle; to form a union; as, the bones of the skull join; two rivers join.
Whose house joined hard to the synagogue.
Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations?
Nature and fortune joined to make thee great.
Join
The line joining two points; the point common to two intersecting lines.
Join
The place or part where objects have been joined; a joint; a seam.
Join
The combining of multiple tables to answer a query in a relational database system.
Join
The shape or manner in which things come together and a connection is made
Join
A set containing all and only the members of two or more given sets;
Let C be the union of the sets A and B
Join
Become part of; become a member of a group or organization;
He joined the Communist Party as a young man
Join
Cause to become joined or linked;
Join these two parts so that they fit together
Join
Come into the company of;
She joined him for a drink
Join
Make contact or come together;
The two roads join here
Join
Be or become joined or united or linked;
The two streets connect to become a highway
Our paths joined
The travelers linked up again at the airport
Common Curiosities
How does "join" differ in usage from "enjoin"?
Join is used for linking or combining in a variety of contexts, unlike the specific legal use of enjoin.
What is the primary context in which "enjoin" is used?
It is primarily used in legal contexts where a court issues orders or prohibitions.
Can "enjoin" be used outside of legal terminology?
Yes, it can also mean to urge or advise earnestly, though this is less common.
Is it correct to say "enjoin into a group"?
No, that would be incorrect. "Join a group" is the correct expression.
Can both "enjoin" and "join" imply a mandatory action?
"Enjoin" always implies a mandate, while "join" typically suggests a voluntary action.
How does "join" function in a technological context?
In technology, "join" often refers to connecting systems or networks.
Does "enjoin" have any synonyms that do not imply legal authority?
While less common, synonyms like "urge" or "advise" can imply non-legal authority.
What are examples of things one might join?
One can join clubs, groups, organizations, or merge materials.
What are some synonyms for "enjoin"?
Command, mandate, dictate.
What are some synonyms for "join"?
Merge, unite, connect.
Is "enjoin" ever used in everyday conversation?
Rarely, as it is mostly confined to legal and formal registers.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
