speed limit

American  

noun

speed limits plural

1. the maximum speed at which a vehicle is legally permitted to travel, as within a specific area, on a certain road, or under given conditions.

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speed limit British  

noun

1. the maximum permitted speed at which a vehicle may travel on certain roads

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• speed limits
  plural

Etymology

Origin of speed limit

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

speed limit

Many authorities have enforced a 50mph speed limit - another thing that irritates motorists.

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026

Shahsavani said she grew more concerned as the speed limit increased along with the number of cars on the road.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026

As a result, the stewards decided Gasly had not exceeded the pit-lane speed limit.

From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026

They noted the economy was growing at a pace considered by most economists to be well above its natural speed limit.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 3, 2026

For the world to be logically consistent, there must be a cosmic speed limit.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan