restriction

American  

[ri-strik-shuhn] / rɪˈstrɪk ʃən /

noun

• restrictions
  plural

1. 

   something that restricts; a restrictive condition or regulation; limitation.

   Synonyms:

   restraint, reservation, provision, rule

2. the act of restricting.

3. the state of being restricted.

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restriction British  

/ rɪˈstrɪkʃən /

noun

1. something that restricts; a restrictive measure, law, etc

2. the act of restricting or the state of being restricted

3. logic maths a condition that imposes a constraint on the possible values of a variable or on the domain of arguments of a function

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonrestriction
  noun
• overrestriction
  noun
• prerestriction
  noun
• restrictionist
  noun
• self-restriction
  noun
• superrestriction
  noun
• prorestriction
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• restrictions
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of restriction

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Late Latin restrictiōn-, stem of restrictiō; equivalent to restrict + -ion

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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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

restriction restrictions

The research suggests it can lead to modest weight loss, but studies generally find it doesn’t work any better than normal calorie restriction.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026

While most of the companies targeted for the tech visa restriction were Indian, Vance called out Microsoft.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026

If former senior intelligence officers can offer their own consulting businesses without restriction, he added, “this opens a potential door for our enemies to try to penetrate.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

Bluetongue was first detected on farms in south-west Scotland in August and there have now been more than 100 infected animals in 41 locations, including four outside the original restriction zone .

From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026

On March 2nd, the Senate passed the Kansas-Ne- braska Bill which repealed the Missouri Compromise restriction and divided the Nebraska Territory into two territories: Kansas and Nebraska.

From "Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad" by Ann Petry

Like birds, these machines may face mechanical restrictions on how much their wings can fold during each wingbeat.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 17, 2026

The Los Angeles Fire Department has extended red flag parking restrictions in the city through Sunday morning.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026

In the letter, sent on Thursday to the US Department of Defense inspector general, the senators say they have "grave concern" about reports of speed restrictions between 12 and 14 October.

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

“The risk is that if the U.S. believes these volumes are not enough, the administration may mull restrictions on U.S. diesel exports once again,” the strategists said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

We have a small team bus, and we have restrictions due to insurance.

From "Tangerine" by Edward Bloor

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Related Words

• check
• condition
• constraint
• control
• curb
• limit
• regulation
• restraint
• rule
• stipulation
• stricture

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