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
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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Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
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Central America and the Caribbean - Introductory
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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.
Earlier this month, it expanded that law to, among other things, eliminate an age restriction on care recipients, expand the maximum credit to $3,000 and raise income-eligibility thresholds.
From MarketWatch • May 20, 2026
The comparison group followed a traditional Mediterranean diet without calorie restriction or exercise advice.
From Science Daily • May 19, 2026
In a statement Coffi Lab, which has since removed the restriction, said that it was overwhelmed with pupils spending long periods of time there, often without buying anything and bringing food from other vendors.
From BBC • May 15, 2026
Ultimately, the Supreme Court rejected the lower court’s restriction.
From Salon • May 15, 2026
There, as we stood at attention, the muscle-bound instructor told us he could put us on restriction for what had happened, then commanded, “Down on the floor.”
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
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.
