/ kənˈstreɪnt; NAmE / noun
1.
[ C ] constraint (on sth) a thing that limits or restricts sth, or your freedom to do sth
SYN restriction :
constraints of time / money / space
financial / economic / legal / political constraints
This decision will impose serious constraints on all schools.
➡ note at limit
2.
[ U ] strict control over the way that you behave or are allowed to behave :
At last we could relax and talk without constraint.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in the sense coercion ): from Old French constreinte , feminine past participle of constraindre , from Latin constringere bind tightly together.