limiting factor

American  

noun

1. Physiology. the slowest, therefore rate-limiting, step in a process or reaction involving several steps.

2. Biology. an environmental factor that tends to limit population size.

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Example Sentences

“As clusters scale, data transfer speeds are becoming a limiting factor, increasing the importance of optical components and materials,” Yardeni wrote.

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

A state investigation found that even if the reservoir had been full, the flow rate in the pipes “would have been a limiting factor in maintaining pressure and the system would have been quickly overwhelmed.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 4, 2026

“The size of the Permian is such that this can’t be a limiting factor for the success of the whole basin,” said Scott Neal, director of growth and portfolio for Chevron’s shale and tight business.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025

The global constraint principle explains that when one limiting factor -- such as a nutrient -- is alleviated, other constraints like enzyme production, cell volume, or membrane space begin to take over.

From Science Daily • Nov. 11, 2025

That's really the limiting factor to life support.

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir