off-limits
adjective
forbidden to be patronized, frequented, used, etc., by certain persons.
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off-limits
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off limits
off limitsadjectivenot to be entered; out of bounds
off-limits
American
[awf-lim-its, of-]
/ ˈɔfˈlɪm ɪts, ˈɒf- /
adjective
off limits
British
adjective
adverb
Etymology
Origin of off-limits
An Americanism dating back to 1950–55
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.
See Examples For:
Current co-workers are off-limits because he doesn’t want applicants’ employers to know they are thinking of jumping ship.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026
During the early days of the Iran conflict, investors flocked to Hyperliquid, a decentralized exchange off-limits to most U.S. customers, to trade crude-oil perpetual futures over the weekend, while traditional futures markets were closed.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 5, 2026
In another provision, computer use would be off-limits between classes and during lunch and recess.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 20, 2026
Xi reportedly name-dropped his friend Putin to Trump last week, when the two leaders walked through Zhongnanhai, which is normally off-limits to foreign visitors, joking about how Putin had visited Beijing's political sanctuary before.
From BBC ● May 18, 2026
The tenants downstairs complained of the banging noise coming through the ceiling, and bed-to-floor leaping was declared off-limits as well.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
Direct Roth IRA contributions are off limits for single filers with modified adjusted gross incomes of $168,000 or more and couples with incomes of $252,000 or more.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
But some things were off limits for AI, including Kingsley’s performance.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 13, 2026
With the Strait of Hormuz off limits, ships have been diverted to Oman and Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast with containers then shipped onwards overland.
From Barron's ● May 1, 2026
"There is nothing off limits - I don't like the idea of a filtered version of ourselves, it's not true, authentic or real," he reflects.
From BBC ● Apr. 4, 2026
This had caused trouble for dozens of places: some had been put off limits by the military; some had lost their state or city licenses.
From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
