limitation

UK: /ˌlɪmɪˈteɪʃ^ən/ US: /ˌlɪmɪˈteɪʃən/ ,(lim′i tā′shən)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

lim•i•ta•tion /ˌlɪmɪˈteɪʃən/   n. 

1. a lack of capacity or ability;
   shortcoming:
   [countable] He's aware of his own limitations.
2. [uncountable] the act of limiting;
   the state of being limited.
3. Law a period of time, defined by law, during which legal action may be taken:
   [countable] statute of limitations.

See -lim-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

lim•i•ta•tion  (lim′i tā′shən), n. 

1. a limiting condition;
   restrictive weakness;
   lack of capacity;
   inability or handicap:
   He knows his limitations as a writer.
2. something that limits;
   a limit or bound;
   restriction:
   an arms limitation; a limitation on imports.
3. the act of limiting.
4. the state of being limited.
5. Law the assignment, as by statute, of a period of time within which an action must be brought, or the period of time assigned:
   a statute of limitations.

• Latin līmitātiōn- (stem of līmitātiō) a bounding, equivalent. to līmitāt(us) (past participle of līmitāre to enclose within boundaries; see limit, -ate¹) + -iōn- -ion
• Middle English lymytacion 1350–1400

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

limitation / ˌlɪmɪˈteɪʃən/ noun

1. something that limits a quality or achievement
2. the act of limiting or the condition of being limited
3. a certain period of time, legally defined, within which an action, claim, etc, must be commenced