off-limits

adjective

off-lim·​its ˈȯf-ˈli-məts How to pronounce off-limits (audio)
: not to be entered or patronized by a designated class (such as military personnel)
also : not to be interfered with, considered, or spoken of
the subject of sex was off-limits in her family

Examples of off-limits in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Pacific Coast Highway, which has been largely off-limits to all but residents, first responders and cleanup crews since the Jan. 7 Palisades Fire, will reopen to all traffic at 8 a.m. tomorrow. Tom Tapp, Deadline, 22 May 2025 Here are some tips: Set Tech-Free Zones Designate spaces in your home where technology is completely off-limits—no phones, no tablets, not even a smartwatch. Alex Backus, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025 The Level 2 ranking is not new, and does not mean that U.S. travelers should avoid the UK or consider it off-limits. Katie Nadworny, Travel + Leisure, 13 May 2025 The legal action, filed in Oregon federal court, comes after the Trump administration in January rescinded a yearslong policy that limited immigration arrests in places previously considered off-limits, such as schools, hospitals and churches, with certain exceptions. Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for off-limits

Word History

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of off-limits was in 1945

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Cite this Entry

“Off-limits.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/off-limits. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

off-limits

adjective
ˈȯ-ˈflim-əts
1
: not to be entered or used by a certain group of people
2
: not to be discussed or considered
questions about my salary are off-limits

More from Merriam-Webster on off-limits

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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