circumscribe
/ˈsɜː.kəm.skraɪb/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To limit something or someone, especially by rules, boundaries, or conditions. It can also mean to draw a circle around something, but this is less common.
- The contract circumscribes what the manager can do.
- Fear circumscribed her freedom to speak.
- He circumscribed the area on the map.
Adinary Nuance
Circumscribe is more formal than limit or restrict. Writers often choose it in legal, academic, or official contexts. It suggests clear boundaries, not just a small reduction. In everyday speech, people usually say limit or restrict instead.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- hạn chế
- Spanish
- limitar
- Chinese
- 限制
- Japanese
- 制限する
- Korean
- 제한하다
Etymology
From Latin circumscribere, meaning 'to draw around' or 'to limit'. It entered English through French and Latin in the late Middle Ages.
Common phrases
circumscribe freedomcircumscribe powercircumscribe the role
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is circumscribe a formal word?
- Yes. It is formal and common in academic, legal, and official writing.
- What is the difference between circumscribe and limit?
- Circumscribe is more formal and stronger. It suggests firm boundaries or rules.
- Can circumscribe mean to draw around something?
- Yes, but that meaning is rare today. Most people use it to mean 'limit'.