restrictive
Americanadjective
-
tending or serving to restrict.
-
of the nature of a restriction.
-
expressing or implying restriction or limitation of application, as terms, expressions, etc.
-
Grammar. limiting the meaning of a modified element.
a restrictive adjective.
adjective
-
restricting or tending to restrict
-
grammar denoting a relative clause or phrase that restricts the number of possible referents of its antecedent. The relative clause in Americans who live in New York is restrictive; the relative clause in Americans, who are generally extrovert , is nonrestrictive
Other Word Forms
- restrictively adverb
- restrictiveness noun
- unrestrictive adjective
- unrestrictively adverb
Etymology
Origin of restrictive
1375–1425; late Middle English < Middle French restrictif < Latin restrict ( us ) ( restrict ) + Middle French -if -ive
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.
The difference reflects a larger question facing the central bank: whether the current inflation backdrop requires maintaining restrictive policy, or whether emerging signs of economic softening and improving supply conditions justify a more gradual shift.
From Barron's
Borthwick, who has spoken of his desire to develop England's game from the basic approach which took England to the World Cup semi-final in 2023, has referred to the weight of the jersey proving restrictive.
From BBC
They highlight that restrictive zoning is largely to blame for underproduction relative to job growth and concur that rent control is counterproductive as it discourages the addition of supply, even with strong demand.
From Los Angeles Times
They also highlighted an additional 24 planets within a more restrictive 3D habitable zone, based on tighter assumptions about how much heat a planet can tolerate before becoming uninhabitable.
From Science Daily
So monetary policy today is much less restrictive.
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.
