What does constriction mean?
Constriction is a noun denoting the act of tightening, narrowing, or squeezing something — or the resulting state of being compressed. It is used most often in medical and biological contexts: a patient may experience constriction of the airways during an asthma attack, or a physician may describe vascular constriction, the narrowing of blood vessels. In zoology, it names the hunting method of boas and pythons, which subdue prey by coiling ever tighter around it. The word also has a vivid figurative life: people speak of a constriction in the chest when frightened, or of the constriction of freedoms under an authoritarian regime. Its connotations are generally negative or uncomfortable, evoking pressure, confinement, and loss of room to move. Derived from Latin roots meaning 'to bind tightly', it pairs naturally with terms like compression and contraction, though each carries its own nuance. Understanding constriction is useful for reading medical writing accurately and for describing both physical sensations and metaphorical constraints with precision.
nounThe act or process of constricting, especially the tightening, narrowing, or squeezing of something such as a passage, vessel, muscle, or space. It also denotes the state of being compressed or restricted in this way.
- The tightening or narrowing of a physical passage, opening, blood vessel, or airway.
- The act of squeezing or binding by wrapping around, as in snakes killing prey by coiling.
- A feeling of pressure, tightness, or restriction in the chest or body.
- (Figurative) A state of restriction or constraint, as on freedom, movement, or resources.
"The snake killed its prey by constriction, coiling tightly around the body."
"Cold air triggered a bronchial constriction that left her wheezing."
"He felt a sudden constriction in his throat when he tried to speak."
Used when referring to multiple instances or locations of tightening, e.g., several narrowings along a pipe or repeated episodes of airway narrowing.
"The scan revealed several constrictions in the patient's coronary arteries."
A boa constrictor doesn't suffocate its prey outright — it tightens with each breath until breathing becomes impossible, which is why 'constriction' carries such visceral force.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of constriction
Constriction derives from Latin 'constringere', meaning to bind or draw together tightly, formed from the intensive prefix 'com-' plus 'stringere' (to draw tight), the same root that gives English 'strict', 'strain', and 'stress'. It entered English via Late Latin 'constrictio', with the noun appearing in the early 17th century, initially in learned and medical writing. Cognates sharing the same Latin ancestor include 'constraint' and 'restraint', which likewise convey binding or limitation.
Related word forms
How constriction is actually used
Mostly neutral to formal in register; common in medical contexts (airway, vascular) and biology (predation). The figurative sense describing emotional or economic constraint is somewhat literary. Often appears as a mass noun preceded by 'a' when referring to a felt sensation ('a constriction in the chest').
Easily confused with constriction
Contraction refers to a shortening or drawing-in of a muscle or substance itself, while constriction emphasizes a narrowing or squeezing of a passage, space, or surrounding object.
Compression is the general act of pressing or squeezing something into less space, whereas constriction specifically describes tightening that narrows an opening or encircles and binds.