circumscription

[ sur-kuhm-skrip-shuhn ]

noun

1. an act or instance of circumscribing.
2. circumscribed state; limitation.
3. anything that circumscribes, surrounds, or encloses; boundary.
4. periphery; outline.
5. a circumscribed area.
6. a circular inscription on a coin, seal, etc.
7. limitation of a meaning; definition.

circumscription

/ ˌsɜːkəmˈskrɪpʃən /

noun

1. the act of circumscribing or the state of being circumscribed
2. something that limits or encloses
3. a circumscribed space
4. an inscription around a coin or medal

Derived Forms

• ˌcircumˈscriptively, adverb
• ˌcircumˈscriptive, adjective

Other Words From

• circum·scriptive adjective
• circum·scriptive·ly adverb
• noncir·cum·scriptive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of circumscription¹

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin circumscrīptiōn- (stem of circumscrīptiō ), equivalent to circumscrīpt ( us ) (past participle of circumscrībere to circumscribe; circum-, script ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

That said, the impact of Mr. Cervas’s circumscription has already been profound, creating the likelihood of highly competitive general-election campaigns from Long Island to upstate New York.

From New York Times

The most unscrupulous of them would seize on a favorable result in one circumscription to claim overall victory, with the help of a corrupted or naive media.

From Washington Post

Supreme Court, which accepted New London’s sophistical argument that virtually erased the Constitution’s circumscription of government’s eminent- domain power.

From Washington Post

It is, the video makes clear, not a victory that they are inhabiting the roles of these formerly white characters — it is a circumscription of their blackness.

From Salon

Although a species' taxonomic status is crucial to its conservation status and the data on populations and threats are assessed by strict criteria, no guidelines for species circumscription exist.

From Nature