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• out-of-bounds
  out-of-bounds

  adjective

  being beyond or passing the limits or boundaries of a field, course, etc., marking the area within which the ball, puck, or the like is legally in play.
• out of bounds
  out of bounds

  adjective

  (often foll by to) not to be entered (by); barred (to)

out-of-bounds

American  

[out-uhv-boundz] / ˈaʊt əvˈbaʊndz /

adjective

1. Sports. being beyond or passing the limits or boundaries of a field, course, etc., marking the area within which the ball, puck, or the like is legally in play.

2. beyond any established boundaries or prescribed limits; forbidden; prohibited.

3. further than or beyond established limits, as of behavior or thought.

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out of bounds British  

adjective

1. (often foll by to) not to be entered (by); barred (to)

   out of bounds to civilians

2. outside specified or prescribed limits

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out of bounds Idioms  

1. Beyond established limits, breaking the rules, unreasonable. For example, Calling the teacher a liar—that's out of bounds. This expression alludes to the boundaries of the playing area in numerous sports and to the rules applying to them. Its figurative use dates from the 1940s. [Early 1800s] Also see within bounds.

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Etymology

Origin of out-of-bounds

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

out-of-bounds out of bounds

You can slow cook a 20-pound turkey waiting for NBA replay to resolve a contested out-of-bounds play.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026

Her degree also relied on specialist equipment, such as cameras and lighting, which could usually be rented through the university but was also out-of-bounds during Covid.

From BBC ● Feb. 20, 2026

Kickoffs short of the landing zone are treated the same as out-of-bounds kickoffs, and they’re spotted at the 40.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 26, 2024

And then he hit his tee shot on the par-5 16th into the houses and out-of-bounds.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 7, 2024

That was because The Cottage is fairly out-of-bounds, even to people landing at the big airfield on legitimate business.

From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein

While the jungle may not be visible to passers-by on the street, it doesn't mean it's completely out of bounds to people.

From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026

“Now…they can shift their gears to the South, which still remains out of bounds for them.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 7, 2026

DHS revamped its training curriculum after George Floyd’s murder to underscore those tactics were out of bounds, Brown said.

From Salon ● Jan. 14, 2026

Yet, only three of these companies have P/E ratios way out of bounds.

From Barron's ● Jan. 9, 2026

And he is quite good at chasing down the cricket ball when we kick it out of bounds.

From "Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Changed the World" by Malala Yousafzai