limitation

[ lim-i-tey-shuhn ]

noun

1. a limiting limiting condition; restrictive weakness; lack of capacity; inability or handicap:

   He knows his limitations as a writer.

2. something that limits; a limit or bound; restriction:

   an arms limitation; a limitation on imports.

3. the act of limiting. limiting.
4. the state of being limited. limited.
5. Law. the assignment, as by statute, of a period of time within which an action must be brought, or the period of time assigned:

   a statute of limitations.

limitation

/ ˌlɪmɪˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. something that limits a quality or achievement
2. the act of limiting or the condition of being limited
3. law a certain period of time, legally defined, within which an action, claim, etc, must be commenced
4. property law a restriction upon the duration or extent of an estate

Other Words From

• nonlim·i·tation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of limitation¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English lymytacion, from Latin līmitātiōn-, stem of līmitātiō “determination, enclosure within boundaries,” from līmitāt(us) “bounded, enclosed” (past participle of līmitāre “to bound, enclose within boundaries”; limit ) + -iō -ion

Example Sentences

While the study provides groundbreaking insights, the researchers acknowledge limitations, such as not measuring phenol levels in children directly.

From Science Daily

Our experience in Bulgaria of the attempt to disrupt the trade in boats being exported from Turkey highlights the benefits of this approach and also its limitations.

From BBC

However, conventional microfabrication techniques face limitations in scale and in the construction of complex networks.

From Science Daily

The study's primary limitation is that participants were healthy and did not have heart failure or risk factors for developing heart failure at the time of enrollment.

From Science Daily

But he added that the move might be “far less than the sum of its parts” due to timing and potential limitations.

From Los Angeles Times