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

After a tumultuous week for Reform, Jenner's first job is damage limitation.

From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026

Although the aluminum-based catalytic system is inexpensive and chemically active, it has an important limitation.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 21, 2026

Capital doesn’t all have to come from Oracle and isn’t “a limitation to the growth of our business,” according to Magouyrk.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026

“At this point, the limitation is individual and organization ambition to deploy—not model ability,” said Nguyen.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026

It was a curious phenomenon, and Galileo passed the problem on to his assistant, Torricelli, who started doing experiments, trying to figure out the reason for the pumps’ curious limitation.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife

“Being Alive” transcends its limitations through the kinetic connection of the cast.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026

Traditional currencies, on the other hand, have no such built-in limitations.

From Slate ● Sep. 20, 2026

The researchers emphasize that the study has important limitations.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 18, 2026

Some artists confronting the physical limitations that come with age pivot to a residency model rather than zigzagging from city to city.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026

Pretended to tease him with the limitations of science—bet you can't explain Bigfoot, etc.—watching him closely.

From "The Subtle Knife" by Philip Pullman