Origin: Latin suffix -tion
Restriction has 4 different meanings across 1 category:
a principle that limits the extent of something
"I am willing to accept certain restrictions on my movements"
an act of limiting or restricting (as by regulation)
"The new government restriction banned all vehicles from entering the city center during rush hour."
the act of keeping something within specified bounds (by force if necessary)
"the restriction of the infection to a focal area"
The act of restricting, or the state of being restricted.
"The new law imposed a strict restriction on vehicle access to the city center during rush hour."
In plain English: A restriction is a rule that limits what you can do or have access to something.
"The new traffic restriction means no vehicles are allowed on the bridge after midnight."
Usage: Use restriction to describe an official rule that limits freedom or quantity rather than a personal preference. It often pairs with verbs like impose or lift when referring to formal constraints on behavior or resources.
The word comes from the Old French restriction, which was borrowed into Middle English in the 14th century. It originally meant "to draw back or confine," reflecting its Latin root meaning to pull tight or narrow down.