con ‧ straint AC /kənˈstreɪnt/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: verb : ↑ constrain ; noun : ↑ constraint ]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: constrainte , from constraindre ; ⇨ ↑ constrain ]
1 . [countable] something that limits your freedom to do what you want SYN restriction
constraint on
Constraints on spending have forced the company to rethink its plans.
the constraints of family life
financial/environmental/political etc constraints
There have been financial and political constraints on development.
impose/place constraints on somebody/something
constraints imposed on teachers by large class sizes
2 . [uncountable] control over the way people are allowed to behave, so that they cannot do what they want:
freedom from constraint
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + constraint
▪ financial/legal/economic etc constraints
During the war, there were many physical and social constraints on citizens.
▪ time constraints (=the limited amount of time that is available)
Exams are always done under strict time constraints.
▪ budget constraints (=the limited amount of money that is available)
With any new project, you have to be aware of the budget constraints.
▪ a major constraint
In Egypt, the shortage of land and water is a major constraint on agriculture.
▪ a serious/severe constraint
The country's debts put serious constraints on its economic growth.
▪ a tight constraint (=a strict limit)
They were operating within tight financial constraints.
▪ an important constraint
Their religious beliefs were an important constraint on their behaviour.
■ verbs
▪ impose constraints on somebody/something
You have to work within the constraints that the software imposes.
▪ place/put constraints on somebody/something
Lack of funding is putting severe constraints on research.
▪ free somebody/something from constraints
Summer vacation is a time when children are freed from the constraints of routine.
■ phrases
▪ be subject to constraints (=be limited by them)
Teachers are subject to the constraints of the examination system.
▪ be free from constraints (=not be limited by them)
No film producers are free from the constraints of censorship.
▪ given the constraints on something (=because there are particular constraints on something)
Given the constraints on space in the city, most people live in tiny apartments.