restraint

/rɪˈstreɪnt/
noun
  1. The act of holding back or controlling something, or the state of being controlled.
    • She showed great restraint by not yelling at her brother.
    • The dog was kept under restraint with a strong leash.
    • The government called for restraint in spending during the crisis.
  2. A device or condition that limits movement or freedom.
    • The prisoner was placed in restraints for safety.
    • The seatbelt is an important restraint in a car.
    • The doctor used a soft restraint to keep the patient's arm still.
  3. A rule or limit that prevents something from happening.
    • There are legal restraints on how much noise you can make at night.
    • Budget restraints forced the school to cancel the field trip.
    • Time restraints made it hard to finish the project.