Definition of restrictionnext
1
as in limitation
something that limits one's freedom of action or choice the logging company decided to relocate to another state where there would be fewer restrictions on its operations

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2
as in constraint
the act or practice of keeping something (as an activity) within certain boundaries the restriction of surfing to the southern end of the beach rankled some surfers

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of restriction Meanwhile, for younger students, the Los Angeles screen-time restrictions took effect with the start of school. Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026 Hugging Face said it was forced to use an open-source Chinese model to defend itself from the OpenAI hack because of restrictions in how popular closed models could be used. Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026 With other restrictions on political freedom relaxed, the DP quickly positioned itself as the CHP’s main rival. Nick Taborall, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Sep. 2026 There’s the war between Russia and Ukraine, and also the closure, or at least serious restriction, of ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Joel Feder, The Drive, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for restriction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for restriction
Noun
  • The approach is designed around the limitations of small aerial vehicles, where additional weight and continuous motor operation can quickly drain a battery.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Financial constraints might have prevented Jarmond from firing Kelly sooner, but those limitations didn’t prevent him from extending Kelly’s contract in 2023.
    Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Importantly, this outlook not only incorporates the chip supply Broadcom expects to receive, but also physical infrastructure constraints such as land, power, and data center shells.
    Jeff Marks, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The product should solve a constraint that customers can quantify.
    John Gabriel, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Restriction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restriction. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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