limitation

American  

[lim-i-tay-shuhn] / ˌlɪm ɪˈteɪ ʃən /

noun

• limitations
  plural

1. a limiting condition; restrictive weakness; lack of capacity; inability or handicap.

   He knows his limitations as a writer.

2. something that limits; a limit or bound; restriction.

   an arms limitation; a limitation on imports.

3. the act of limiting.

4. the state of being limited.

5. Law. the assignment, as by statute, of a period of time within which an action must be brought, or the period of time assigned.

   a statute of limitations.

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limitation British  

/ ˌlɪmɪˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. something that limits a quality or achievement

2. the act of limiting or the condition of being limited

3. law a certain period of time, legally defined, within which an action, claim, etc, must be commenced

4. property law a restriction upon the duration or extent of an estate

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonlimitation
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• limitations
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of limitation

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English lymytacion, from Latin līmitātiōn-, stem of līmitātiō “determination, enclosure within boundaries,” from līmitāt(us) “bounded, enclosed” (past participle of līmitāre “to bound, enclose within boundaries”; see limit) + -iō -ion

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Explanation

A limitation is something that holds you back, like a broken leg that keeps you off the dance floor during prom season. A limitation could also be a rule that restricts what you can do, like needing to be a certain height to ride a roller coaster at an amusement park. It can also be a circumstance that hampers you, like a dead car that keeps you from traveling very far from home. The noun limitation comes up a lot in the law, especially in the phrase "statute of limitations," which dictates how long after a crime someone can be prosecuted for committing it.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

limitation limitations

Challenged over whether her apology could be seen as an effort at damage limitation, or too late, she said that she hadn't expected so much exposure from the incident.

From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026

It was damage limitation for England, while the hosts could show off.

From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026

Even with that limitation, the discovery opens an intriguing possibility: targeting the metabolic machinery that helps drive inflammation could provide another way to combat rheumatoid arthritis and potentially protect joints from lasting damage.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 22, 2026

Another important limitation is that the researchers focused on the hippocampus.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 15, 2026

The real limitation, Lawrence advised Mark Oliphant, then planning a sixty-inch machine, was “funds available.”

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

By expanding the program again, Newsom said he wants to address some of California’s limitations.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2026

He said that despite the "clear jurisdictional limitations," the force's actions "reflected our recognition of the exceptional circumstances of the case and our commitment to providing whatever support and assistance was realistically available."

From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026

The limitations are frustrating, Chavez Camacho said, especially “si una persona no sabe leer” — if a person can’t read.

From Salon ● Oct. 31, 2026

A Justice Department spokeswoman said prosecutors filed a “waiverless criminal information” to extend the 10-year statute of limitations so prosecutors can seek an indictment.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2026

Thus, as in New Guinea, the limitations on indigenous food production in the eastern United States were not due to Native American peoples themselves, but instead depended entirely on the American biota and environment.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

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