restrictive

adjective

re·​stric·​tive ri-ˈstrik-tiv 

1

a

: of or relating to restriction

b

: serving or tending to restrict

restrictive regulations

a restrictive diet

2

: limiting the reference of a modified word or phrase

3

: prohibiting further negotiation

restrictive noun

restrictively adverb

restrictiveness noun

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

In the United Kingdom, for example, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has begun easing the Labour government’s restrictive approach to oil and gas development in the North Sea. — Jason Bordoff, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2026

The material is soft and breathable, while the elastic-back waistband keeps things from feeling too restrictive. — Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 14 Aug. 2026

Yet another study found that students at schools with restrictive phone policies did not have significantly better mental health or academic outcomes than students at more permissive schools. — Kavin Bendre, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026

Across the 10 models, the average refusal rate for requests to produce political criticism was 34% in restrictive countries, compared with 14% in freer ones. — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing restrictive

• restrictive clause

Rhymes for restrictive

• addictive
• constrictive
• predictive
• vindictive
• magnetostrictive

Kids Definition

restrictive

adjective

re·​stric·​tive ri-ˈstrik-tiv 

1

: serving or likely to restrict

2

: limiting the reference of a modified word or phrase

restrictive noun

restrictively adverb

restrictiveness noun

Legal Definition

restrictive

adjective

re·​stric·​tive ri-ˈstrik-tiv 

1

a

: of or relating to restriction

b

: serving or tending to restrict

2

: prohibiting further negotiation

restrictively adverb

restrictiveness noun