constraint
noun [ C ]
uk/kənˈstreɪnt/ ussomething that controls what you can do by keeping you within particular limits:
The constraint of distribution costs remains the severest of all.
budget/financial, etc. constraints This growth in revenue may soften the government's budget constraints and allow it to increase public spending.
big/major/serious constraint They believe that the new legislation will remove a major constraint to economic expansion.
a constraint on/to sth The cost of capital is an important constraint on business activity.
place/put a constraint on sth Some external factors placed constraints on the scope of the work that could be undertaken.
Among those conditions was a five-year time constraint. (= time limit)