constraint

[ kuhn-streynt ]

noun

1. limitation or restriction.

   Synonyms: pressure, obligation, force

2. repression of natural feelings and impulses:

   to practice constraint.

3. unnatural restraint in manner, conversation, etc.; embarrassment.
4. something that constrains.
5. the act of constraining.
6. the condition of being constrained. constrain.
7. Linguistics. a restriction on the operation of a linguistic rule or the occurrence of a linguistic construction.

constraint

/ kənˈstreɪnt /

noun

1. compulsion, force, or restraint
2. repression or control of natural feelings or impulses
3. a forced unnatural manner; inhibition
4. something that serves to constrain; restrictive condition

   social constraints kept him silent

5. linguistics any very general restriction on a sentence formation rule

Other Words From

• noncon·straint noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of constraint¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English constreinte, from Middle French, noun use of feminine past participle of constreindre “to constrain”; constrain

Example Sentences

It is another example of the "growing tide of large class actions against Big Tech" which has "operated without sufficient constraint", Toby Starr from legal firm Humphries Kerstetter told the BBC.

From BBC

“We will need to add one more constraint to flight planning, which is avoiding areas of contrail formation.”

From BBC

I was so struck by the ways in which this court has been crowned as the most speech-protective court in the history of the United States, but it’s freedom from constraint; it’s speech-protective.

From Slate

But it is the new “stability rule” that will be the binding constraint for Wednesday.

From BBC

That is a significant constraint.

From BBC

Related Words

• curb
• hindrance
• restraint