off-limits
adjective
off-lim·its
ˈȯf-ˈli-məts 
: not to be entered or patronized by a designated class (such as military personnel)
also
: not to be interfered with, considered, or spoken of
the subject of sex was off-limits in her family
Examples of off-limits in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The development underscores that while rifts have emerged between the United States and Israel over the war's conduct, the Biden administration views weapons transfers as off-limits when considering how to influence the actions of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
—
John Hudson The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 31 Mar. 2024
The development underscores that while rifts have emerged between the United States and Israel over the war’s conduct, the Biden administration views weapons transfers as off-limits when considering how to influence the actions of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
—John Hudson, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
And the upstairs, where Jodi roamed, was completely off-limits.
—Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 29 Mar. 2024
Now, after the discovery of two dead bodies and a bloodied hot tub, park authorities have deemed the beloved Kern County springs off-limits and have threatened to ticket trespassers.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2024
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has proposed opening state park trails currently off-limits to e-bikes.
—Jennifer Dixon, Detroit Free Press, 20 Mar. 2024
But as the world reopened — and people resumed spending on dining out, travel, concerts and other things that were previously off-limits — savings rates have leveled off.
—Abha Bhattarai, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024
Much of the street parking surrounding Runyon Canyon is already off-limits to non-residents, forcing drivers to flood residential streets west of the canyon, Raman said in a 2022 letter to the Los Angeles Department of Transportation.
—Caroline Petrow-Cohen, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2024
Energy potential isn't mapped in some areas (gray) that are already off-limits for federal, ecological, military or other uses.
—Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2024
John Hudson The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 31 Mar. 2024
The development underscores that while rifts have emerged between the United States and Israel over the war’s conduct, the Biden administration views weapons transfers as off-limits when considering how to influence the actions of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
—John Hudson, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
And the upstairs, where Jodi roamed, was completely off-limits.
—Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 29 Mar. 2024
Now, after the discovery of two dead bodies and a bloodied hot tub, park authorities have deemed the beloved Kern County springs off-limits and have threatened to ticket trespassers.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2024
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has proposed opening state park trails currently off-limits to e-bikes.
—Jennifer Dixon, Detroit Free Press, 20 Mar. 2024
But as the world reopened — and people resumed spending on dining out, travel, concerts and other things that were previously off-limits — savings rates have leveled off.
—Abha Bhattarai, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024
Much of the street parking surrounding Runyon Canyon is already off-limits to non-residents, forcing drivers to flood residential streets west of the canyon, Raman said in a 2022 letter to the Los Angeles Department of Transportation.
—Caroline Petrow-Cohen, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2024
Energy potential isn't mapped in some areas (gray) that are already off-limits for federal, ecological, military or other uses.
—Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'off-limits.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near off-limits
Cite this Entry
“Off-limits.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/off-limits. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share