A cease and desist letter is a document sent to an individual or business to stop allegedly illegal activity. The phrase "cease and desist" is a legal doublet, made up of two near-synonyms.

What does it mean when a person is desist?

formal. /dɪˈsɪst/ uk. /dɪˈsɪst/ to stop doing something, especially something that someone else does not want you to do: The soldiers have been ordered to desist from firing their guns.

What does it mean when you say cease and desist?

A cease and desist is an order or request to stop suspicious or illegal activities. They come in the form of a legal order issued by a government agency or court or a non-binding letter, typically written by an attorney. A cease and desist order has legal power, while a cease and desist letter is not legally binding.