restricted
Americanadjective
-
confined; limited.
-
(of information, a document, etc.)
-
bearing the classification restricted, usually the lowest level of classified information.
-
limited to persons authorized to use information, documents, etc., so classified.
-
-
limited to or admitting only members of a particular group or class.
a restricted neighborhood; a restricted hotel.
adjective
-
limited or confined
-
not accessible to the general public or ( esp US ) out of bounds to military personnel
-
denoting or in a zone in which a speed limit or waiting restrictions for vehicles apply
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of restricted
Explanation
Have you ever seen a door labeled Restricted? If so, you probably know it means "Stay out." A restricted area can only be entered by certain people. Anything labeled restricted is not public. Restricted things are private, and only certain people who are authorized can access or use those things. Anything restricted is subject to more rules. In sports, a restricted free agent has to worry about more rules than an unrestricted free agent. Something or someone restricted has to deal with restrictions, which are rules or laws that set limits.
Vocabulary lists containing restricted
Nothing But the Truth
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Selection Vocabulary 3, Unit 4
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Selection Vocabulary 1, Unit 4
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
But the task force had arranged the meeting in a manner where public comment was restricted to Post-it notes, on which attendees could only pen their thoughts and stick them up on whiteboards.
From Slate ● Aug. 6, 2026
Their restricted distribution suggests that ruptoblasts originated early in animal evolution.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 5, 2026
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
Ohio’s attorney general last year filed a complaint against 14 trustees and officers of the college alleging they improperly used more than $2 million of restricted endowment funds outside donors’ intended purposes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
Even as a free man in Virginia, Isaac lived under written laws that restricted the legal rights of free blacks and the code of unwritten rules that applied to black people.
From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis
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.
