restriction
n. C / Un. a rule or law that limits what you can do or what is allowed to happen. It keeps things under control or within certain boundaries.
n. a rule, law, or condition that limits or controls what people can do or how something is used. Often used in the plural to describe a set of regulations.
There is a speed restriction on this road.
The government lifted the travel restriction after the health crisis improved and it was safe to move between cities again.
While the new policy aims to protect local wildlife, critics argue that the restriction on land use will negatively impact the economic growth of the surrounding rural communities.
From Middle English restriccioun, from Anglo-Norman restriction, Middle French restriction, and their source, Late Latin restrictiō, from Latin restringō. Morphologically restrict + -ion.
Countable when referring to specific rules; uncountable when referring to the general state of being limited. Often followed by the preposition 'on'.
a restriction about smokinga restriction on smokingThe noun restriction typically takes the preposition 'on' when identifying the activity being limited.