Answer:
A limiting factor is a situation or condition that determines the speed or growth of a certain biological or social process, due to the fact that only a limited amount of it is available.
Therefore, a limiting factor is one that places a limit on the development of a certain characteristic within society. A clear example within biology is the lack of drinking water sources, which is a limiting factor for the development of population settlements, as occurs in the Sahara.
Thus, the existence of limiting factors puts a brake on the unrestricted development of human society, conditioning its development to the adaptation of individuals to the natural conditions of the environment.