constraint

Universal Words noun 1 [C] ~ (on sth) a thing that limits or restricts sth, or your freedom to do sth SYNRESTRICTION: constraints of time / money / space * financial / economic / legal / political constraints * This decision will impose serious constraints on all schools. * Magistrates are under a constraint not to send young people to prison. 2 [U] strict control over the way that you behave or are allowed to behave: At last we could relax and talk without constraint.