stricture

American  

[strik-cher] / ˈstrɪk tʃər /

noun

1. a remark or comment, especially an adverse criticism.

   The reviewer made several strictures upon the author's style.

2. an abnormal contraction of any passage or duct of the body.

3. Phonetics. a constriction of airflow in the vocal tract in the production of speech.

4. a restriction.

5. Archaic. the act of enclosing or binding tightly.

6. Obsolete. strictness.

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stricture British  

/ ˈstrɪktʃə /

noun

1. a severe criticism; censure

2. pathol an abnormal constriction of a tubular organ, structure, or part

3. obsolete severity

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Other Word Forms

• nonstrictured adjective
• strictured adjective

Etymology

Origin of stricture

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin strictūra tightening, equivalent to Latin strict ( us ) ( strict ) + -ūra -ure

Example Sentences

But the strictures don’t apply to Kushner because he is an informal, unpaid adviser.

From The Wall Street Journal

But modern playwrights, particularly those who see their roles as storytellers, have resisted such superficial strictures.

From Los Angeles Times

But whether they know or not, getting re-elected while staying within the strictures of the bond market is going to be tough.

From The Wall Street Journal

He has described himself as more writer than reporter, and therefore not bound by the usual journalistic strictures.

From The Wall Street Journal

What this means for policymakers is obvious: AI, understood as a tool, is subject to the ethical concerns and strictures of all other tools.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• restraint