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Glite Dictionary
budget constraint

budget constraint

4 4.0
A limit on how much money you can spend
  • noun
  • /ˈbʌdʒɪt kənˈstreɪnt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : restricción presupuestaria
  • If the government faces a budget constraint on several projects, the same logic applies.
  • time and budget constraint
  • severe budget constraints
  • facing budget constraints

So if you're working with a producer, they have budget constraints, they have location constraints.

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Examples

  • Households seek to maximize their well-being subject to cash and time budget constraints.

    Academic text (2016)

  • Due to budget constraints, the organization had to cancel several planned projects.

  • In many school districts, budget constraints require that one person fill both roles.

    Academic text (1997)

  • We're making a choice with some notion of a budget constraint and, you know, do one thing, you do less of something else.

  • l'd hate to see his work go unfinished due to budget constraints.

    Junior (1994)

  • The instructors have a keen awareness of student needs, student budget constraints, and securing the best value for the travel dollar.

    Academic text (2010)

  • Domestic politics and budget constraints tend to dominate the presidential agenda and overshadow foreign policy concerns.

    Academic text (1998)

  • In my last elementary school in Aurora, Ontario, ever-tightening budget constraints reduced the teacher-librarian role to half-time.

    Academic text (2007)

  • Many families struggle to plan their summer vacation within their budget constraints.

  • The company's budget constraints limited their ability to hire new staff this year.

Synonyms

limitation
vsbudget constraint
167 3.3

A condition that stops a person or thing from doing more

refers specifically to a money limit rather than a general restriction
tight budget
vsbudget constraint
10 2.9

A situation with only a little money to spend

is a formal limit on how much money can be spent

How Strict

cap
258 3.3
budget constraint
  • Specialized
4 4.0

Surface Forms

budget constraint singular
budget constraints plural

Morphology

budget + constraint

The meaning 'a limit on the amount of money that can be spent' is directly derivable from combining 'budget' (a plan for money) with 'constraint' (a limitation). This compositional relation is straightforward and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily understand the MWE.

Etymology

Budget constraint creates a simple image: the budget is the amount of 'money' you have and the constraint is like a rope or fence that stops you from spending more. So it means 'a limit' on how much you can spend because of the money available.