restrictive

adjective

re·stric·tive | \ri-ˈstrik-tiv

Definition of restrictive

1a : of or relating to restriction

b : serving or tending to restrict restrictive regulations

2 : limiting the reference of a modified word or phrase

3 : prohibiting further negotiation

Other Words from restrictive Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about restrictive

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Did You Know?

Restrictive covenants (that is, agreements) in real-estate deeds were once used to forbid the buyer from ever selling the property to anyone of another race. These are now illegal, though other kinds of restrictive covenants are very common; in some neighborhoods, they may even tell you what colors you can't paint your house. In grammar, a restrictive clause is one that limits the meaning of something that comes before it. In the sentence "That's the professor who I'm trying to avoid", "who I'm trying to avoid" is a restrictive clause, since it's what identifies the professor. But in the sentence "That's my History professor, who I'm trying to avoid", the same clause is nonrestrictive, since the professor has already been identified as "my History professor". There should always be a comma before a nonrestrictive clause, but not before a restrictive clause.

Examples of restrictive in a Sentence

In the sentence “The book that you ordered is out of print,” “that you ordered” is a restrictive clause.

Recent Examples on the Web

Having secured a compromise, the minister is now in charge of rolling out the restrictive measures. — Andrea Thomas, WSJ, "European Governments Fail to Agree on Redistributing Migrants," 12 July 2018 What not to do: Don't place a tourniquet or anything restrictive near the bite. — Kelsey Mo, azcentral, "Top 5 calls to Poison Control and what the hotline advises you should do," 18 June 2018 The state does not prohibit hydraulic fracturing but Irani said California has more restrictive rules than many other states. — Rob Nikolewski, sandiegouniontribune.com, "California's ranking as an oil-producing state is slipping," 12 July 2018 Republican state lawmakers across the country have been attacking Roe around the edges for years with increasingly restrictive rules, from gestational limits to tougher licensing for clinics. — Dan Horn, Cincinnati.com, "Ending Roe v. Wade wouldn't end abortion in America. This is what happens next.," 9 July 2018 The nearby Everglades Club — known for being more private in its affairs and restrictive in its admissions than Trump’s club — also posted an application seeking to hire 15 foreign cooks for the coming season, at the same salary as Trump’s club. — Washington Post, BostonGlobe.com, "Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida petitions to hire 40 foreign workers," 6 July 2018 However, some states have more restrictive laws or fewer clinics equipped to provide the procedure already. — Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Fox News, "Abortion, Roe v. Wade at center of Supreme Court nominee debate: What could happen to the landmark law?," 12 July 2018 Itzel Guillen of Alliance San Diego criticized the Trump administration using family separations as well as the end of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program to push Congress to pass more restrictive immigration laws. — Kate Morrissey, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Ten arrested in protest over Operation Streamline and family separation," 2 July 2018 Six of the remaining seven ─ California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey — already have restrictive gun laws, said J. Adam Skaggs, chief counsel of the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. — NBC News, "'We don't have to accept the carnage': Towns take a stand on gun control," 2 July 2018

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