Word
limitation
Phoneticslim·i·ta·tion, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌɫɪmɪˈteɪʃən/
UK/lˌɪmɪtˈeɪʃən/
Definitions
01a restriction or boundary
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a rule or situation that limits what you can do or how far you can go.
n. a limiting rule or circumstance that restricts scope or freedom of action.
日本語:制限※
“The new law puts a strict limitation on how much noise factories can make.”
“The budget imposes a severe limitation on the scope of the research project, forcing the team to focus only on local data.”
Synonyms
02a shortcoming or weakness
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a weakness or a lack of ability that stops someone or something from being better.
n. a failing or lack of capacity which prevents a person or thing from achieving a higher standard.
“He is a great writer, but he knows his limitations when it comes to poetry.”
“The software is powerful, yet users must be aware of its technical limitations when processing extremely large datasets.”
03legal time limit
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Law Technical · Formal
n. a fixed period of time during which you are allowed to start a legal case.
n. a legally prescribed period after which a right cannot be enforced or a crime cannot be prosecuted.
“The case was dropped because the legal limitation for the crime had passed.”
“The defence argued that the statute of limitations had expired, rendering the plaintiff's claim for damages legally void.”
Usage
often used in the phrase 'statute of limitations'
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “limitation” in context.
Verb
01. acknowledge limitation
“It is important to acknowledge the limitations of this study before drawing conclusions.”
verb + noun
02. address limitation
“The new software update aims to address the limitations of the previous version.”
verb + noun
03. have limitation
“Every research method will have some limitations that need to be considered.”
verb + noun
04. impose limitation
“The government decided to impose limitations on the amount of water used during the drought.”
verb + noun
05. recognise limitation
“Athletes must recognise their physical limitations to avoid serious injury.”
verb + noun
06. reveal limitation
“The stress test helped reveal limitations in the bridge's structural design.”
verb + noun
Adjective
07. additional limitation
“The budget cuts placed an additional limitation on the project's scope.”
adj + noun
08. important limitation
“One important limitation of the survey was the small number of participants.”
adj + noun
09. methodological limitation
“The professor pointed out a methodological limitation in the student's thesis.”
adj + noun
10. limitation concern
11. limitation reveal
Real-World Examples
“It addresses limitations in existing models, which are often designed for organizations in other industries.” “The researchers note several important limitations to the findings.” Etymology
Borrowed from Latin limitatio. Morphologically limit + -ation.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/limitation
※ 機械で選んだ訳語です。ネイティブスピーカーによる確認はまだです。
「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0