adjective
- tending or serving to restrict.
- of the nature of a restriction.
- expressing or implying restriction or limitation of application, as terms, expressions, etc.
- Grammar. limiting the meaning of a modified element: a restrictive adjective.Compare descriptive(def 2b).
adjective
- restricting or tending to restrict
- grammar denoting a relative clause or phrase that restricts the number of possible referents of its antecedent. The relative clause in Americans who live in New York is restrictive; the relative clause in Americans, who are generally extrovert, is nonrestrictive
early 15c., “serving to bind or draw together,” from Middle French restrictif, from Late Latin restrictivus, from Latin restrict-, past participle stem of restringere (see restriction). Meaning “imposing restriction” is from 1570s. Related: Restrictively; restrictiveness.