# confines

/ˈkɑnˌfaɪnz/ (US) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/confines
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

the limits or borders of a space or an activity. It describes the feeling of being kept inside a specific area.

For teachers: the boundaries or limits of a space, area, or activity. Often used to suggest a sense of restriction or enclosure.

## Examples

- It is difficult to live within the confines of a small room.
- The researchers were finally able to test their theories outside the narrow confines of the laboratory.
- The artist felt that the strict confines of traditional portraiture prevented her from expressing the true psychological depth of her subjects.

## Pitfalls

- Not "within the confine of the city" but "within the confines of the city" — In the sense of boundaries or limits, the word is a plural-only noun and requires the 's' ending.

## Usage notes

- Takes plural verb agreement; almost exclusively used in the plural form to describe physical or metaphorical boundaries.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.