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
Universities, like every organization, must balance educational ideals with monetary realities, demographic pressures, legal constraints, and institutional priorities.
—
Scott White,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2026
The court could acquit Le Pen, shorten or lift her ban from public office, or impose a harsher sentence that leaves her under judicial constraints during a nationwide campaign.
—
Sylvie Corbet,
Los Angeles Times,
5 July 2026
To address these resource constraints, the joint venture will deliver full lifecycle support for fusion fuels.
—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
5 July 2026
Freedom, taken alone, can sound like the absence of constraint.
—
Sreedhar Potarazu,
Baltimore Sun,
4 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for constraint
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Scott White,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2026
The court could acquit Le Pen, shorten or lift her ban from public office, or impose a harsher sentence that leaves her under judicial constraints during a nationwide campaign.
—
Sylvie Corbet,
Los Angeles Times,
5 July 2026
To address these resource constraints, the joint venture will deliver full lifecycle support for fusion fuels.
—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
5 July 2026
Freedom, taken alone, can sound like the absence of constraint.
—
Sreedhar Potarazu,
Baltimore Sun,
4 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for constraint
Cite this Entry
“Constraint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/constraint. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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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