constriction

American  

[kuhn-strik-shuhn] / kənˈstrɪk ʃən /

noun

1. the act of constricting.

2. the state of being constricted; tightness or inward pressure.

   Synonyms:

   stricture, contraction, compression

3. a constricted part.

4. something that constricts.

5. Phonetics. an articulated narrowing of the vocal tract that in consonants audibly obstructs the flow of air and in vowels defines an interconnection between or among resonance cavities.

---

constriction British  

/ kənˈstrɪkʃən /

noun

1. a feeling of tightness in some part of the body, such as the chest

2. the act of constricting or condition of being constricted

3. something that is constricted

4. genetics a localized narrow region of a chromosome, esp at the centromere

---

Other Word Forms

• constrictive adjective
• constrictively adverb
• constrictiveness noun

Etymology

Origin of constriction

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin constrīctiōn- (stem of constrīctiō ), equivalent to Latin constrīct ( us ) ( constrict ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

Once activated, this process leads to airway constriction in people with asthma.

From Science Daily • Jan. 27, 2026

For almost five years, the entertainment industry has been beset, first by the pandemic, then by the writers’ and actors’ strikes and the constriction that followed.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 15, 2025

The introduction of Turner somewhat cushions that constriction, but more so by the sights of Ellis-Taylor’s remarkable Hattie.

From Salon • Dec. 13, 2024

The show unfurled with a model emerging from the shadows in a sinisterly twisted black laminated dress that seemed to swallow her hands whole — a striking image of constriction reappeared throughout the collection.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 3, 2024

I wanted so much for us: a life free of constriction and prejudice.

From "We Were Liars" by E. Lockhart

Related Words

• narrowing