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
Commuter bikes don’t come with the same constraints many other bikes do.
—ArsTechnica, 15 May 2026
Autonomous agents may bypass implicit constraints, exploit process gaps or optimize in ways that conflict with business intent.
—Stephane Gervais, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Traditional surface shipbuilders lack nuclear certification, while existing nuclear yards such as Newport News face capacity constraints from carrier and submarine programs.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 15 May 2026
Keppel has explored floating data center designs in Singapore, where land constraints make the concept especially attractive.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for constraint
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ArsTechnica, 15 May 2026
Autonomous agents may bypass implicit constraints, exploit process gaps or optimize in ways that conflict with business intent.
—Stephane Gervais, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Traditional surface shipbuilders lack nuclear certification, while existing nuclear yards such as Newport News face capacity constraints from carrier and submarine programs.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 15 May 2026
Keppel has explored floating data center designs in Singapore, where land constraints make the concept especially attractive.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 15 May 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 21 May. 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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