4 syllables: lim, i, ta, tion. Stress on ta.
lim-it-AY-shuhn
/ˌlɪmɪˈteɪʃən/
limitation is pronounced lim-it-AY-shuhn (/ˌlɪmɪˈteɪʃən/). It has four syllables (lim-i-ta-tion), with the stress on "ta". Limitation refers to a boundary or restriction that curtails capacity, scope, or freedom. It can denote legal or logical confines, a constraint in performance, or a disability that narrows potential. In everyday use, it often highlights the finite extent of something or a condition that prevents full achievement.
Limitation refers to a boundary or restriction that curtails capacity, scope, or freedom. It can denote legal or logical confines, a constraint in performance, or a disability that narrows potential. In everyday use, it often highlights the finite extent of something or a condition that prevents full achievement.
"The contract imposes a limitation on the liability of the parties involved."
"Researchers noted a limitation in the study design that could affect the results."
"Despite his talent, he operated under a limitation of time and resources."
Pronounce as /ˌlɪ.mɪˈteɪ.ʃən/ in US and UK; US: stress on the third syllable, UK similarly places stress on the third syllable. Start with /l/ lips lightly touching teeth, /ɪ/ as a short vowel, then /m/ bilabial nasal, /ɪ/ again, /ˈteɪ/ with a long a, followed by /ʃən/ where the /ʃ/ is a softened 'sh' and /ən/ is a reduced, neutral schwa. In practice, say lie-MI-TEY-tion with a clear pause before -tion. Audio reference: [listen viaPronunciation resources]. Keywords: stress, syllable-timed rhythm, reduced final vowel.
Common errors include stressing the wrong syllable (stress on 'li' or 'mi' instead of 'ta'), pronouncing the ending as 'tion' like 'shun' too early, or over-articulating /t/ in the middle syllable. Correction: ensure the primary stress is on the third syllable: li-MI-tey-tion. Use a light, quick /t/ followed by the /ʃ/ in the final cluster; avoid turning -tion into a separate syllable with full /tɪən/. Practice with slow, deliberate pacing and repeat the sequence 'li-mi-TEY-tion' focusing on the /teɪ/.
US/UK/AU share /ˌlɪ.mɪˈteɪ.ʃən/ but differences occur in r-coloring and vowel quality. US rhotics may show a darker /ɹ/ in surrounding words; UK tends to be non-rhotic with more precise vowel length; Australian tends to a centralized vowel quality and broader, flatter intonation. The /tʃ/ remains consistent; the -tion ending often reduces to /ən/ or /n̩/ depending on pace. Overall, the primary stress remains on the third syllable, but vowel timbre varies by accent.
It combines a multi-syllabic structure with a diphthong in /teɪ/ and a final consonant cluster /tʃən/. The challenge is maintaining correct stress across three syllables while not diluting the vowel sounds, especially in fast speech. Also, the 'ti' before 'on' can be mispronounced as /tɪən/ or /tən/; you need /teɪ.ʃən/ with a clear /ʃ/ sound and a reduced final /ən/. Practice keeping the middle syllable crisp and the final -tion light.
The word places primary stress on the third syllable (li-mi-TA-tion). In connected speech, you may hear the leading three syllables reduced slightly, but the peak emphasis stays on /ˈteɪ/. The pattern is not trochaic; rather, it’s an anapest-like rhythm (unstressed, unstressed, stressed) leading into a softer final -tion. Focus on not letting the /teɪ/ get swallowed by the surrounding syllables; keep it crisp.
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Limitation comes from late Latin limitatio, from limitar(e) to bound or limit, from limen ‘threshold, boundary.’ The root lim- relates to boundary; old French limite, Latin limis. The sense shift from “boundaries” to “restrictions or constraints” emerged in English by the 16th century as legal and abstract limits (e.g., jurisdiction, powers) were described. The word expanded to describe constraints in various domains—logic, mathematics, and everyday constraints—keeping the core idea of setting a border or cap. The -ation suffix marks a process or action, so limitation denotes the act or state of limiting. First known uses appear in legal and scholastic texts of the 1500s, evolving through bureaucratic and scientific discourse where precise boundaries are essential. Over time, the term has accrued collocations such as legal limitation, time limitation, and functional limitation, maintaining its central theme of an imposed confining boundary. In modern usage, limitation frequently pairs with adjectives that specify domain or severity (e.g., significant limitation, practical limitation), underscoring both the object and effect of the constraint.
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Words that rhyme with "limitation"
-ion sounds
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