restraint

From Wiktionary
restraint is on the Academic Word List.

Pronunciation[change]

Noun[change]

Singular
restraint

Plural
restraints

  1. (uncountable) Restraint is the quality people show when they don't do something they shouldn't do.
    You already ate too much cake. Now please show some restraint.
  2. (countable) A restraint is a strap or other thing that holds a person in place, like a seatbelt in a car or handcuffs that the police use to hold someone.
    A baby needs the right kind of restraint to ride safely in a car.
  3. (countable) A restraint is something that stops people from doing something.
    A legal restraint prevents him from going to meet his ex-girlfriend.

Related words[change]