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

However, in many of these studies, researchers were not able to fully separate out whether women were smoking both cannabis and tobacco, which was a limitation.

From Salon

The limitation of these studies is that the further researchers get from an exposure in research, like cannabis use in pregnancy, the harder it becomes to determine whether behavioral changes are related to that factor or some of the other highly variable changes made in a developing child’s environment.

From Salon

But amid budget deficits, “there’s a limitation of what California can do.”

From Los Angeles Times

From 17th on the grid, it appeared to be a case of damage limitation for Max Verstappen with championship rival Lando Norris on pole.

From BBC

Prop 139 would amend the state constitution so the government cannot “limit access to abortion before fetal viability without establishing that the limitation.”

From Salon