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
The functional, 360-degree set, incorporating practical lighting into the design, allows an immersive environment in which cameras can move freely without constraints while evoking a working ER.
—Jon Lapook, CBS News, 4 Jan. 2026
This constraint forced a radically different design approach, prioritizing simplicity and efficiency over brute force.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Jan. 2026
The analyst also discussed Micron’s solid guidance and added that despite industry supply constraints, Micron expects both DRAM and NAND bit shipments to increase by 20% in 2026.
—Tipranks.com Staff, CNBC, 4 Jan. 2026
For these workers, JLL continued, non-compliance is often driven by personal constraints rather than a dislike of the office itself (or a disregard for all the free food).
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 3 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for constraint
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jon Lapook, CBS News, 4 Jan. 2026
This constraint forced a radically different design approach, prioritizing simplicity and efficiency over brute force.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Jan. 2026
The analyst also discussed Micron’s solid guidance and added that despite industry supply constraints, Micron expects both DRAM and NAND bit shipments to increase by 20% in 2026.
—Tipranks.com Staff, CNBC, 4 Jan. 2026
For these workers, JLL continued, non-compliance is often driven by personal constraints rather than a dislike of the office itself (or a disregard for all the free food).
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 3 Jan. 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 Jan. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share