English Reference
adjective

restricted

adj.
US /ɹiˈstɹɪktəd/ UK /ɹɪstɹˈɪktɪd/ re·strict·ed

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    limited or kept within certain boundaries or rules.

    limited in extent, number, or scope; subject to specific constraints.

    Simple

    The doctor recommended a restricted diet to help manage his blood pressure.

    In context

    The pilot was forced to navigate through restricted airspace, requiring constant communication with ground control to avoid a security violation.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

    only available to a small group of people, often for security reasons.

    available only to authorised personnel; often used in a security or governmental context to denote a level of classification.

    Simple

    The report contains restricted information that only the manager can see.

    In context

    Access to the laboratory is restricted to senior researchers who have undergone a full background check and safety briefing.

Usage restricted access · restricted to certain · random restricted

But high housing costs for those living in the city are not restricted to August.

BBC News· 12 Aug 2026

And he said a key advantage was that it was likely to be cheaper than other weight-loss treatments, which have tended to be tightly restricted by the NHS.

BBC News· 10 Aug 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated