circumscribe
SUR-kum-skryb
/ˌsɜːrkəmˈskraɪb/
To restrict something within limits; to draw a line around.
Can be literal (drawing a circle) or metaphorical (limiting freedom or power).
The story behind the word. Literally 'to write around'. Imagine drawing a circle around someone; they are now limited to that space. That is the essence of circumscribing.
Word relationships
- restrict: Restrict is a general term; circumscribe implies drawing a very specific boundary.
- confine: Confine suggests being kept within a space, while circumscribe suggests the boundary itself.
- expand: To expand is to move beyond boundaries; to circumscribe is to set them.
Commonly confused with
- circumvent: Circumvent means to go around a rule; circumscribe means to set the rule.
Word family
- circumscription (noun): the act of restricting or the boundary itself.
Collocations
- circumscribe power
- strictly circumscribed
- circumscribe a circle
Example sentences
- "The powers of the president are strictly circumscribed by the country's constitution." Political Science
- "The student was asked to circumscribe a circle around the square." Geometry
Memory hook
A Circle scribed around you limits your movement. Draw a line around it.
When not to use
Don't use 'circumscribe' for physical barriers like walls; use it for rules, laws, or boundaries.
Fun facts
- In ancient magic, 'circumscribing' a space was believed to protect it from demons.
Explore more words
curtail, circumspect, inscribe, transgress, prescribe, obstruct
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