limiting factor
Americannoun
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Physiology. the slowest, therefore rate-limiting, step in a process or reaction involving several steps.
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Biology. an environmental factor that tends to limit population size.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The limiting factor is the cost cap - all teams are restricted to spending no more than $215m on racing and development this season.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
“The limiting factor for expansion is really rigorous validation, making sure things are completely safe,” Musk said on a call with investors in April.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 1, 2026
The limiting factor here is not range but charging speed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 16, 2026
“The limiting factor isn’t just power, it’s labor, it’s memory, it’s storage, it’s our ability to bring up infrastructure,” said CEO Intrator on the call.
From Barron's ● May 7, 2026
“The short life span has always been a prime limiting factor in education,” he told George and Julie.
From "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" by Robert C. O'Brien
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
