constraint
noun
con·straint
kən-ˈstrānt 
1
a
: the act of constraining
b
: the state of being checked, restricted, or compelled to avoid or perform some action
… the constraint and monotony of a monastic life …—
Matthew Arnold
Matthew Arnolda life of invalidism and constraint
c
: a constraining condition, agency, or force : check
put legal constraints on the board's activities
Budget constraints have forced me to revise my travel plans.
2
a
: repression of one's own feelings, behavior, or actions
emotional constraint
b
: a sense of being constrained : embarrassment
" … a constraint between us as if we were strangers … "—John P. Marquand
John P. MarquandExamples of constraint in a Sentence
Lack of funding has been a major constraint on the building's design.
They demand freedom from constraint.
They refuse to work under constraint any longer.
Recent Examples on the Web
From Roadblock to Runway: Leveraging Regulatory Changes for Financial Innovation
Fintechs that treat regulatory shifts as an opportunity rather than a constraint will be the ones that succeed in this new era.
—Nandan Sheth, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
But on Tuesday, a spokesperson for the US State Department told WIRED that the program is abruptly ending due to budget constraints.
—Zeyi Yang, WIRED, 5 Mar. 2025
The main countermeasure is mortar fire, which is cheap and mobile—again, not a serious constraint that requires around-the-clock shifts in Russian factories.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2025
Food insecurity creates a combination of issues, from financial constraints, lack of access to affordable nutritious food, social and emotional stress, and affects the academic performance of college students, according to Talamantes.
—Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for constraint
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Nandan Sheth, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
But on Tuesday, a spokesperson for the US State Department told WIRED that the program is abruptly ending due to budget constraints.
—Zeyi Yang, WIRED, 5 Mar. 2025
The main countermeasure is mortar fire, which is cheap and mobile—again, not a serious constraint that requires around-the-clock shifts in Russian factories.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2025
Food insecurity creates a combination of issues, from financial constraints, lack of access to affordable nutritious food, social and emotional stress, and affects the academic performance of college students, according to Talamantes.
—Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for constraint
Cite this Entry
“Constraint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/constraint. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
constraint
noun
con·straint
kən-ˈstrānt
1
: the act of constraining : the state of being constrained
2
: something that constrains : check
3
: a holding back of one's feelings, actions, or behavior
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