What does "limitation" mean?
The act of limiting or the state of being limited.
Limitation
/lɪmɪˈteɪʃən/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act of limiting or the state of being limited.
- Grammar: limitation is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: restriction, absolute interest, advertising funded program, algebraic model.
- Useful contrasts: broad extent, comprehensive scope, great extent.
- Usage evidence: Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.
How to use "limitation"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "limitation" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "limitation" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "limitation" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "limitation" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "limitation" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "restriction" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "limitation", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act of limiting or the state of being limited. countable, uncountable
- 2 an act of limiting or restricting (as by regulation) wordnet
- 3 A restriction; a boundary, real or metaphorical, caused by some thing or some circumstance. countable, uncountable
"Getting into his wheelchair after his amputation, it felt like a limitation you could roll in."
- 4 the quality of being limited or restricted wordnet
- 5 An imperfection or shortcoming that limits something's use or value. countable, uncountable
"Both the MI score and the t-score have their limitations. MI computes a logarithm representing the number of co-occurrences of words compared to their occurrences apart in the corpus, which can highlight rare collocations if the components tend not to occur with other words. The t-score formula is less susceptible to this but its numerical result cannot be meaningfully compared across corpora of different sizes."
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 a principle that limits the extent of something wordnet
- 7 A time period after which some legal action may no longer be brought. countable, uncountable
"The lawyer obtained impunity by dragging his obviously guilty client's case beyond the ten-year limitation."
- 8 the greatest amount of something that is possible or allowed wordnet
- 9 (law) a time period after which suits cannot be brought wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
broad extentcomprehensive scopegreat extentpositive attribute
Example
"Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "limitation"?
Common synonyms include: restriction, absolute interest, advertising funded program, algebraic model, algorithmic metric, allowance.
How do you use "limitation" in a sentence?
Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.
How do you pronounce "limitation"?
Pronounced /lɪmɪˈteɪʃən/.
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin limitatio. Morphologically limit + -ation.