circumscribe

verb cir·cum·scribe \ ˈsər-kᵊm-ˌskrīb \

Updated on: 23 Mar 2018

Definition of circumscribe

transitive verb

1 a : to constrict (see constrict 1) the range or activity of definitely and clearly

his role was carefully circumscribed

b : to define or mark off carefully

a study of plant species in a circumscribed area

2 a : to draw a line around

circumscribed the misspelled words

b : to surround by or as if by a boundary

fields circumscribed by tall trees

3 : to construct or be constructed around (a geometrical figure) so as to touch as many points as possible

a circle circumscribing a square

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Examples of circumscribe in a Sentence

The circle is circumscribed by a square.
circumscribed his enthusiasm so as not to make the losing side feel worse

Recent Examples of circumscribe from the Web

Instead of circumscribing corporations within moats, Zscaler employs omnipresent sentries.

— robert hackett, Fortune, "What to Know About 2018's First Big Tech IPO," 17 Mar. 2018
Those latter interventions have tested Rex Tillerson’s nerves, and Kelly has long been inclined to circumscribe Kushner’s role.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump Reluctant to Overrule FBI, Give Kushner Security Clearance," 26 Feb. 2018
Since the arrival of the first African slaves in North America early in the 17th-century, prejudice, often supported by law, has circumscribed the experiences of African-Americans.

— alice george, Smithsonian, "The 1968 Kerner Commission Got It Right, But Nobody Listened," 1 Mar. 2018
That these games would be circumscribed by politics was a given from the outset because of regional rivalries.

— CBS News, "North Korea signals willingness to talk with U.S. as Olympics come to a close," 25 Feb. 2018
That these games would be circumscribed by politics was a given from the outset because of regional rivalries.

— Washington Post, "Political end to Olympics: NKorea offers talks with US," 25 Feb. 2018
Translators often struggle to render curse words and insults in other languages, as their emotional heft tends to be culturally circumscribed.

— The Economist, "Foul playThe power of profane language," 25 Jan. 2018
In Nixon’s final days as President, Schlesinger instructed the military to double-check attack orders from the White House with him, thus unilaterally circumscribing the powers of the Commander in Chief.

— jon meacham, Time, "Could the 25th Amendment Be Trump's Downfall? Here's How It Works," 11 Jan. 2018
Even Qatar’s foreign policy has been circumscribed; for instance, the cut-off of air routes prevents Qatar from flying humanitarian aid to Gaza.

— fred kaplan, Slate Magazine, "How Trump Made the Qatar Situation Worse," 5 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'circumscribe.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Circumscribe has a lot of relatives in English. Its Latin predecessor circumscribere (which roughly translates as "to draw a circle around") derives from circum-, meaning "circle," and scribere, meaning "to write or draw." Among the many descendants of circum- are circuit, circumcise, circumference, circumnavigate, circumspect, circumstance, and circumvent. Scribere gave us such words as scribe and scribble, as well as ascribe, describe, and transcribe, among others. Circumscribe was first recorded in the 14th century; it was originally spelled circumscrive, but the "circumscribe" spelling had also appeared by the end of the century.

Origin and Etymology of circumscribe

Middle English circumscriven, from Latin circumscribere, from circum- + scribere to write, draw — more at scribe

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

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circumscribe Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of circumscribe

limit, restrict, circumscribe, confine mean to set bounds for. limit implies setting a point or line (as in time, space, speed, or degree) beyond which something cannot or is not permitted to go.