restriction
Americannoun
-
something that restricts; a restrictive condition or regulation; limitation.
- Synonyms:
- restraint, reservation, provision, rule
-
the act of restricting.
-
the state of being restricted.
noun
-
something that restricts; a restrictive measure, law, etc
-
the act of restricting or the state of being restricted
-
logic maths a condition that imposes a constraint on the possible values of a variable or on the domain of arguments of a function
Other Word Forms
- nonrestriction noun
- overrestriction noun
- prerestriction noun
- prorestriction adjective
- restrictionist noun
- self-restriction noun
- superrestriction noun
Etymology
Origin of restriction
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Late Latin restrictiōn-, stem of restrictiō; equivalent to restrict + -ion
Explanation
A restriction is a limitation or a restraint, like when a size restriction keeps you from jumping on a toddler trampoline and bouncing the smaller kids a mile up in the air. Usually a restriction is in place because a limit needs to be set. Common sense would keep you from putting a bowling ball in a paper bag; you wouldn’t need a restriction to tell you not to do it. Sometimes a restriction is the result of doing something bad or misusing a privilege, as when your parents put a restriction on video gaming to limit your time in front of the TV.
Vocabulary lists containing restriction
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
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Central America and the Caribbean - Introductory
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Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
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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.
Dresser also criticized Anthropic’s strategy for being built on “fear, restriction, and the idea that a small group of elites should control AI.”
From MarketWatch • Apr. 13, 2026
"The Strait must be open -- fully, unconditionally and without restriction."
From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026
So why should the court now impose a restriction that does not appear anywhere in the Constitution?
From Slate • Apr. 1, 2026
She stepped down as attorney general, but amassed even greater influence as Maduro’s right hand, able to direct policy and distribute favors without restriction.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026
Merlyn opened his mouth and shut it twice, before he was able to comply with this restriction.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
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.
