limitation
n. C / Un. a rule or fact that stops someone from doing something or keeps something from growing. It can also mean a weakness that prevents someone from being perfect.
n. a condition or circumstance that restricts the scope, ability, or effectiveness of something. In a legal context, it refers to a legally specified period during which a right may be exercised or a claim brought.
The small budget is a major limitation for our project.
The athlete had to retire early because of the physical limitations caused by a knee injury.
The statute of limitations prevents the prosecution from bringing charges for certain crimes after a specific number of years have passed since the incident.
Borrowed from Latin limitatio. Morphologically limit + -ation.
Often used in the plural ('limitations') when referring to personal weaknesses or general restrictions. In legal contexts, it frequently appears in the fixed phrase 'statute of limitations'.