limitation

American  

[lim-i-tey-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

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

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

The limitation is on the supply side, not the demand side.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026

This was expressed as the number of days “confined indoors,” which the authors acknowledged as a limitation.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 27, 2026

This is a huge limitation, as Flock has been used by officers to track not just exes but the new beaus with whom they have moved on.

From Salon ● Aug. 17, 2026

Only 7% cover accommodations for mobility limitation, hearing disability, vision impairment and sensory disabilities.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026

Besides a small and fragmented population, the other limitation on development in New Guinea was geographic isolation, restricting the inflow of technology and ideas from elsewhere.

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

"So it's really important to be fully counselled on what to expect when using testosterone, but also the limitations of its use."

From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026

Financial constraints might have prevented Jarmond from firing Kelly sooner, but those limitations didn’t prevent him from extending Kelly’s contract in 2023.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026

The study comes with several significant limitations, particularly because melatonin is handled differently from one country to another.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 29, 2026

In Texas, legal malpractice claims are generally subject to a two-year statute of limitations, although certain exceptions may extend the filing deadline.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 26, 2026

However, Lord Fredrick’s pack of hounds did not have these limitations, and from the sound of it, the dogs were getting closer by the minute.

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood