straitjacket

1 of 2

noun

strait·​jack·​et ˈstrāt-ˌja-kət 

variants or less commonly straightjacket

1

: a cover or overgarment of strong material (such as canvas) used to bind the body and especially the arms closely in restraining a violent prisoner or patient

2

: something that restricts or confines like a straitjacket

straitjacket

2 of 2

verb

variants or less commonly straightjacket

straitjacketed also straightjacketed; straitjacketing also straightjacketing; straitjackets also straightjackets

transitive verb

: to confine in or as if in a straitjacket

Examples of straitjacket in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The undiluted isolationism of his campaign messaging could prove to be a straitjacket that paralyzes the Trump administration’s foreign policy at a critical time. —Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2024

Trump should make clear that Washington will no longer allow the accord to impose a straitjacket on broader U.S. policy in the Middle East. —Tzvi Kahn, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2017

Verb

Hip-hop from that period often incorporated sampling, a technique that was legally straitjacketed by 1991. —Jeremy Gordon, New York Times, 3 May 2020

Trump was not straitjacketed by the laws and customs governing foundations, or by the most basic ethical norms. —Steve Chapman, chicagotribune.com, 13 Nov. 2019

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1814, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1863, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

straitjacket

noun

strait·​jack·​et

variants also straightjacket

ˈstrāt-ˌjak-ət

: a cover or outer garment of strong material (as canvas) used to restrict the movement of the arms as a means of controlling a violent prisoner or patient

Medical Definition

straitjacket

noun

strait·​jack·​et

variants also straightjacket

ˈstrāt-ˌjak-ət 

: a cover or garment of strong material (as canvas) used to bind the body and especially the arms closely in restraining a violent prisoner or patient