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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

A double bogey at the second was followed by a bogey on the third, while a wayward out-of-bounds drive on the par-four fourth cost him another shot as his round began to unravel.

From BBC ● May 18, 2024

Then, after the Lakers won an out-of-bounds challenge, timing officials struggled to get the game restarted — more than 15 minutes of real time expiring before the game could resume.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 16, 2024

Forest Service and the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office to come up with a policy for leaving the ski area to ride out-of-bounds terrain.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 16, 2023

“You, Potter, and Weasley are out-of-bounds, in the company of a convicted murderer and a werewolf. For once in your life, hold your tongue.”

From "Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban" by J.K. Rowling

On the field Friday, a referee shouted "stop!" as a shot flew out of bounds -- prompting every robot to freeze instantly.

From Barron's ● Jul. 3, 2026

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

Things that had been out of bounds so far, obscured by history’s blinkers.

From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy