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straitjacket

Pronunciation: /ˈstreɪtdʒakɪt/

(also straightjacket)
Translate straitjacket | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of straitjacket

noun

  • a strong garment with long sleeves which can be tied together to confine the arms of a violent prisoner or mental patient.
  • a severe restriction on freedom of action, development, or expression:the government is operating in an economic straitjacket

verb (straitjackets, straitjacketing, straitjacketed)

[with object]
  • restrain with a straitjacket.
  • impose severely restrictive measures on (a person or activity):the treaty should not be used as a tool to straitjacket international trade

See strait-laced (usage)

Spelling help

Straitjacket can also be spelled straightjacket: both are correct.

straitjacket in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of straitjacket in the US English dictionary

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