restrictive

Language: en

🇬🇧 /rɪˈstrɪktɪv/ 🇺🇸 /riːˈstrɪktɪv/

📖 Definitions

  1. adjective
    Serving or tending to restrict; limiting or confining in scope, extent, or freedom.; Of or relating to a clause or phrase that limits or defines the meaning of the word or words it modifies, and is not set off by commas.; Imposing limitations on personal freedom or behavior; authoritarian or controlling.; In medicine, referring to a condition that limits the expansion of the lungs, such as restrictive lung disease.; In economics or trade, referring to policies or practices that limit competition or free market activity.; In grammar, synonymous with defining; specifying a particular subset from a larger group.

🔗 Details

Word forms

Comparative: more restrictive Superlative: most restrictive

Collocations

restrictive clauserestrictive covenantrestrictive practicerestrictive policyrestrictive measuresrestrictive trade practice

Derivatives

restrictrestrictionrestrictivelyrestrictivenessunrestrictednonrestrictiverestricted

Synonyms

limitingconstrainingconfiningstringenttightrigid

Antonyms

permissiveliberallenientunrestricted

Commonly confused

restricted
EN: 'Restricted' describes something that has been limited (past participle/adjective); 'restrictive' describes something that imposes limits (inherent quality).
nonrestrictive
EN: 'Nonrestrictive' refers to a clause that adds non-essential information (set off by commas); 'restrictive' refers to a clause that is essential to the meaning.

Spelling tips

EN: Remember the '-ive' ending (not '-ative'); the root is 'restrict' + '-ive', not 'restrictate'.

💬 Examples

  1. The government imposed restrictive measures on trade to protect domestic industries.

  2. In the sentence 'The students who passed the exam were rewarded,' the relative clause 'who passed the exam' is restrictive.

  3. She found the restrictive dress code at her new school stifling and uncomfortable.

  4. The patient was diagnosed with a restrictive pulmonary disorder that reduced lung capacity.

  5. The company was fined for engaging in restrictive trade practices that harmed consumers.

  6. A restrictive modifier is essential to the meaning of the noun it modifies and cannot be omitted.