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

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

restriction restrictions

The measure would also bring drones under the arms restriction regime and increase the number of experts scrutinizing the existing embargo.

From Barron's ● Aug. 24, 2026

The Chino Valley school board adopted the book restriction policy in October 2023.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026

A judge at the High Court in Edinburgh imposed an order for lifelong restriction and ordered that Docherty must serve a minimum of six years in jail before seeking parole.

From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026

Weight-loss advice often emphasizes calorie restriction and smaller portions.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026

A second restriction on the size of highland populations was the limited available area: the New Guinea highlands have only a few broad valleys, notably the Wahgi and Baliem Valleys, capable of supporting dense populations.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

The listing carries financial sanctions, restrictions on US foreign aid and defence exports and sales and can also penalise people and other countries that trade with the sanctioned state.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

He also found that its restrictions on lawmakers’ ability to reconsider voter-approved policies was unconstitutional.

From Salon ● Aug. 25, 2026

But the agency stressed that its removal of restrictions on Syria "does not change Treasury's posture with regards to countering global terrorism and our commitment to hold bad actors in Syria accountable."

From Barron's ● Aug. 24, 2026

The company remains subject to U.S. restrictions that limit its access to certain American technologies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

Ration card restrictions, abysmal puddings, the deteriorating quality of fingernail varnish—these are crimes they feel in their souls.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr

Related Words

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