no-go

American

[noh-goh] / ˈnoʊˈgoʊ /

Or no go

adjective

Informal.

not authorized or approved to proceed; canceled or aborted.

The Tuesday space launch is no-go.
not ready to go or proceed.
not functioning properly; inoperative.

The ticket machine was no-go.
(of an area) having restricted entry.

hazardous no-go zones.

noun

Informal.

a plan or idea that is canceled, rejected, or otherwise fails to be realized.

We asked to borrow the car, but that was a no-go, so we’ll have to take the bus.

no go Idioms

see no dice.

Etymology

Origin of no-go

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Pineapple on pizza is a no-go for Tucci.

From BBC • May 9, 2026

The Strait of Hormuz was still a no-go zone for most ships on Wednesday, the day after Iran agreed to a cease-fire that will allow marine traffic to resume.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

Kyiv has since ensured that the western part of the Black Sea, including the shipping lanes to its main port, Odesa, has become a no-go zone for the Russian Navy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

Green leader Zack Polanski said the victory showed there were no longer any "no-go areas" for his party, as winning candidate Hannah Spencer said "this is only the beginning".

From BBC • Feb. 27, 2026

Such policies have today left much of middle Egypt a no-go area for unescorted Westerners.

From "Circumference" by Nicholas Nicastro

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023