stricture

[ strik-cher ]

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.

stricture

/ ˈstrɪktʃə /

noun

1. a severe criticism; censure
2. pathol an abnormal constriction of a tubular organ, structure, or part
3. obsolete.
   severity

Derived Forms

• ˈstrictured, adjective

Other Words From

• strictured adjective
• non·strictured adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stricture¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of stricture¹

C14: from Latin strictūra contraction; see strict

Example Sentences

They preached personal freedom and choice; the Democrats, by contrast, strived to keep faith with their large base of Catholics who hewed to the church’s strictures on abortion.

From Los Angeles Times

But rather than commune with Marika, his deified mother, Miquella wants to escape the strictures and expectations of her Golden Order.

From New York Times

Jackson, who is in her early 50s, is aware of the reality of the modern LGBTQ+ community and the moral strictures of her faith.

From Los Angeles Times

But money did not insulate him from the strictures of Jim Crow and its long racist shadow.

From New York Times

It would require groups that receive significant foreign funding to register as organizations “carrying the interests of a foreign power,” among other strictures.

From New York Times

Related Words

• restraint