|Origin:||restreinte, from restreindre; RESTRAIN|
calm sensible controlled behaviour, especially in a situation when it is difficult to stay calm:
The police were praised for their restraint in handling the demonstrators.
He urged the millions of protesters to exercise restraint.
2 [countable usually plural, uncountable]
a rule or principle that limits what people can do
Opposition politicians have called for restraints on public spending.
The government has imposed restraints on corporate mergers.
3 [uncountable] formal
physical force that is used to hold someone back, especially because they are likely to be violent:
Sometimes police officers have to use physical restraint to control dangerous prisoners.
something that prevents someone from moving freely, such as a rope or a seat belt