restrictive

adjective

re·​stric·​tive ri-ˈstrik-tiv 

1

a

: 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

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

The heel counter keeps you locked in without being restrictive, and the forefoot gives you enough flex to move naturally, even after hours of wear. —Dan Michel, Robb Report, 27 Aug. 2025

In addition to Google, other tech companies have been less restrictive in allowing businesses to run ads related to cannabis. —Dario Sabaghi, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025

Tense legal battles have erupted between municipalities that argue the statute is too restrictive and the Healey administration, which says the measure is one of the few tools Massachusetts has to create more housing amid extraordinarily high costs. —Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald, 25 Aug. 2025

The union, the administration and Republicans in Congress want to repeal the D.C. Council’s police reforms, passed in 2020 and again in 2022, as dangerously lenient, including with teenage carjackers, while being too restrictive with law enforcers. —Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 25 Aug. 2025

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
• fictive
• 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