off-limits

adjective

off-lim·​its ˈȯf-ˈli-məts How to pronounce off-limits (audio)
Synonyms of off-limits
: not to be entered or patronized especially by a designated class of people
Certain areas of the museum are off-limits to visitors.
also : not to be interfered with, considered, or spoken of
The subject of politics was off-limits in her family.

Examples of off-limits in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Similar initiatives are bringing visitors into other parts of Caracas that were long seen as off-limits, including the barrios of Petare and Cota 905. — Tibisay Zea, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Aug. 2026 One of my favorites is FAI Autumn Days, a weekend when the Fondo Ambiente Italiano (FAI) opens the doors to some of the city’s most spectacular off-limits places. — Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 21 Aug. 2026 The luxury pods — complete with lie-flat beds and sliding privacy doors — could be entirely off-limits when departure day rolls around, sitting completely empty at 35,000 feet. — Edward Russell, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026 With the war’s roughly 800-mile front line mostly off-limits to independent observers, Russia and Ukraine have also engaged in a propaganda battle. — Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for off-limits

Word History

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of off-limits was in 1945

Rhymes for off-limits

See All Rhymes for off-limits

Browse Nearby Words

off-license
off-limits
offline
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Off-limits.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/off-limits. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

off-limits

adjective
ˈȯ-ˈflim-əts
1
: not to be entered or used by a certain group of people
2
: not to be discussed or considered
questions about my salary are off-limits

More from Merriam-Webster on off-limits

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for off-limits

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All