restrictive

adjective

re·​stric·​tive ri-ˈstrik-tiv How to pronounce restrictive (audio)
1
a
: of or relating to restriction
b
: serving or tending to restrict
restrictive regulations
2
: limiting the reference of a modified word or phrase
3
: prohibiting further negotiation
restrictive noun
restrictively adverb
restrictiveness noun

Did you know?

Restrictive covenants (that is, agreements) in real-estate deeds were once used to forbid the buyer from ever selling the property to anyone of another race. These are now illegal, though other kinds of restrictive covenants are very common; in some neighborhoods, they may even tell you what colors you can't paint your house. In grammar, a restrictive clause is one that limits the meaning of something that comes before it. In the sentence "That's the professor who I'm trying to avoid", "who I'm trying to avoid" is a restrictive clause, since it's what identifies the professor. But in the sentence "That's my History professor, who I'm trying to avoid", the same clause is nonrestrictive, since the professor has already been identified as "my History professor". There should always be a comma before a nonrestrictive clause, but not before a restrictive clause.

Examples of restrictive in a Sentence

In the sentence “The book that you ordered is out of print,” “that you ordered” is a restrictive clause.
Recent Examples on the Web Comfort and Safety: McKinney-Kirk recommends looking for soft materials that won't dig in or feel restrictive and steering clear of underwear that feels too snug to avoid excessive compression on the belly or hips. Cheryl Fenton, Parents, 6 Aug. 2024 The new rule, signed into law by President Joko Widodo this week, follows demands from women’s rights activists and health-care practitioners who argue that the previous rule was too restrictive in cases of rape, leading some women and girls to be jailed for terminations beyond six weeks. Faris Mokhtar / Bloomberg, TIME, 1 Aug. 2024 Loading your audio article A Connecticut man has been sentenced to a less restrictive form of probation for defrauding the Medicaid program out of about $80,000 through false claims, according to state judicial officials. Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 30 July 2024 Sahm argued last week the Fed should have already begun lowering rates as inflation has tempered sufficiently to allow for an easing of policy from its current restrictive levels. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 29 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for restrictive 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'restrictive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of restrictive was in 1579

Dictionary Entries Near restrictive

Cite this Entry

“Restrictive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/restrictive. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.

Kids Definition

restrictive

adjective
re·​stric·​tive ri-ˈstrik-tiv How to pronounce restrictive (audio)
1
: serving or likely to restrict
2
: limiting the reference of a modified word or phrase
restrictive noun
restrictively adverb
restrictiveness noun

Legal Definition

restrictive

adjective
re·​stric·​tive ri-ˈstrik-tiv How to pronounce restrictive (audio)
1
a
: of or relating to restriction
b
: serving or tending to restrict
2
: prohibiting further negotiation
restrictively adverb
restrictiveness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on restrictive

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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