Meaning & use
nonrestrictive
Last updated
Describing a clause or modifier that adds extra, non-essential information about a noun without limiting or defining it.
See it in a sentence
In "my brother, who lives in Denver, is visiting," the clause "who lives in Denver" is nonrestrictive and is set off by commas.
Editors often need to decide whether a relative clause is restrictive or nonrestrictive before deciding whether to add commas.
A note on using this word
Nonrestrictive clauses are always separated from the rest of the sentence by commas, unlike restrictive clauses, which are essential to meaning and take no commas.
Words with a similar meaning
non-definingparenthetical
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
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