limiting

adjective

lim·​it·​ing ˈli-mə-tiŋ 

1

a

: functioning as a limit : restrictive

limiting value

b

: being an environmental factor (such as a nutrient) that limits the population size of an organism

2

: serving to specify the application of the modified noun

this in "this book" is a limiting word

limitingly adverb

Examples of limiting in a Sentence

A limiting factor on our country's economic performance is its lack of resources.

As a writer, I find the drama genre to be very limiting.

Recent Examples on the Web

Cartoons, on the other hand, might be the most natural format for the superhero adaptation, providing a more liberating canvas and allowing for all manner of fantastic derring-do without the limiting factor of having to stuff real people in the frame. —Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2024

Drawbacks include the obvious limiting factor of customization. —Bankim Chandra, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024

Tan and his co-founder had essentially just tasked themselves with building new infrastructure for the Malaysian taxi system, but money was a big limiting factor. —Ernestine Siu, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2024

For the third, the most limiting factor is officer training. —Jack Watling, Foreign Affairs, 2 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1644, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing limiting

• self-limiting

Kids Definition

limiting

adjective

lim·​it·​ing

: being an environmental factor (as food) that limits the size of a population of living things