restraint

noun

re·​straint ri-ˈstrānt How to pronounce restraint (audio)
1
a
: an act of restraining : the state of being restrained
b(1)
: a means of restraining : a restraining force or influence
(2)
: a device that restricts movement
a restraint for children riding in cars
2
: a control over the expression of one's emotions or thoughts

Examples of restraint in a Sentence

Make sure the child safety restraint is in place. The prisoner was placed in restraints. His angry response showed a lack of restraint. The government has acted with restraint in dealing with this crisis.
Recent Examples on the Web For example, the bill restores law enforcement’s ability to review their body-camera footage before writing police reports in most cases and loosens language prohibiting neck restraints and certain vehicular pursuit tactics. Emily Davies, Washington Post, 5 Mar. 2024 There would be some urgency in his voice, but also some restraint, and the effect would be that of a member of the Royal Family pausing in a receiving line to speak to a retired Olympian. Fiona McFarlane, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 Included in that evidence were restraint logs, surveillance footage of abuse and excessive force and infraction records. Corin Cesaric, Peoplemag, 3 Mar. 2024 During a quickly escalating encounter, Mr. McClain was forcefully restrained by police and placed in a carotid chokehold, a neck restraint that has since been banned in Aurora and other police departments. Kelley Manley, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2024 The compromise that emerged from talks among lawmakers, law enforcement groups and other stakeholders allows school resource officers to use prone restraints but imposes new training requirements. Steve Karnowski, Twin Cities, 26 Feb. 2024 This success has led the Iranians to caution their allies to exercise restraint now, to avoid dragging the region into a broader conflict that would put its gains at risk. Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2024 Tasting through eight wines—four white and four red—from village, Premier Cru, and Grand Cru appellations in the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits, three words come to mind: elegance, freshness, and restraint. Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 25 Feb. 2024 But both parties must engage in such restraint and enforcement if foreign policy is to get back on track. Elizabeth N. Saunders, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'restraint.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French restreinte, from restreindre

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of restraint was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near restraint

Cite this Entry

“Restraint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/restraint. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

restraint

noun
re·​straint ri-ˈstrānt How to pronounce restraint (audio)
1
: the act of restraining : the state of being restrained
held in restraint
2
: a restraining force or influence
3
: control over one's behavior
act with restraint

Medical Definition

restraint

noun
re·​straint ri-ˈstrānt How to pronounce restraint (audio)
: a device that restricts movement
restraints such as straitjackets for violent patients

Legal Definition

restraint

noun
re·​straint ri-ˈstrānt How to pronounce restraint (audio)
1
a
: an act or fact of restraining see also prior restraint
b
: the state of being restrained
2
a
: a means of restraining
b
: a device that restricts movement (as of prisoners or violent psychiatric patients)

More from Merriam-Webster on restraint

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