point of no return

American  

noun

1. Aviation. the point in a flight at which an aircraft will lack sufficient fuel to return to its starting point.

2. the critical point in an undertaking, decision-making process, etc., where one has committed oneself irrevocably to a course of action or policy.

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point of no return British  

noun

1. a point at which an irreversible commitment must be made to an action, progression, etc

2. a point in a journey at which, if one continues, supplies will be insufficient for a return to the starting place

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point of no return Idioms  

1. The place in a course of action beyond which reversal is not possible. For example, Once the contract is signed, we've reached the point of no return. This expression comes from aviation, where it signifies the point where an aircraft does not have enough fuel to return to the starting point. [c. 1940]

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Etymology

Origin of point of no return

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

Senior officials say Mexico is at a point of no return after Oseguera’s death.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

“However, there is a point of no return where the spike in oil starts to work in reverse resulting in a negative impact on equities,” writes J.P.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

Speaking of which, as I write this, we are drifting toward what feels like a point of no return.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026

Because their event horizons are relatively small, material falling inward becomes extremely hot and bright before crossing the point of no return.

From Science Daily • Jan. 16, 2026

He also knew that injecting the seawater was their only hope of keeping the chain reaction in unit 1 from reaching a point of no return, and that every minute counted.

From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland