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.
Mehta says the support he would receive in a care home would make his life much more restricted.
From BBC • May 19, 2026
Anthropologist Anstice Justin, 71, took part in the government's limited contact missions to the restricted North Sentinel island in the Andaman Sea between 1986 and 2004.
From Barron's • May 18, 2026
Some countries in the region have imposed fuel-saving measures, cut refinery runs or restricted product exports to conserve domestic supplies.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026
But he and others believe it’s no longer a matter of if — but when and how — the drugs are restricted, including in California.
From Los Angeles Times • May 9, 2026
Finally, these diseases tend to be restricted to humans; the microbes causing them tend not to live in the soil or in other animals.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
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.
