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
Since 2002, this city on the Amazon River has been famously off-limits to motor vehicles.
—
Mac Margolis, NPR, 12 May 2024
Also off-limits is the San Francisco International Airport — though the company remains in conversation with city officials about eventually bringing service there.
—Kate Talerico, The Mercury News, 3 May 2024
Many of the pieces sold on the spot, such as the Arrow necklace in emeralds and diamonds (the bracelet and earrings are pictured here), so, per client request, these are now off-limits to press.
—Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 3 May 2024
And off-limits, with a rule against fraternizing between housemates after unwanted drama with the previous girl.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 2 May 2024
The pact may offer Saudi Arabia an arrangement strong enough to need the U.S. Senate’s approval and even give the world’s biggest oil exporter access to advanced U.S. weapons that were previously off-limits.
—Bloomberg News, Orange County Register, 2 May 2024
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government has long declared Taksim off-limits for demonstrations on security grounds, but the square holds symbolic value for labor unions.
—Mehmet Guzel and Hyung-Jin Kim, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 May 2024
That strike destroyed a building that was part of an Iranian embassy complex, the sort of facility normally considered off-limits to attack.
—Russell Goldman, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2024
Censorship has real health implications Discussions involving women’s bodily functions and health have long been seen as off-limits, even as women’s pain and other health concerns are more likely to be dismissed by healthcare professionals.
—Eva Rothenberg, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024
Mac Margolis, NPR, 12 May 2024
Also off-limits is the San Francisco International Airport — though the company remains in conversation with city officials about eventually bringing service there.
—Kate Talerico, The Mercury News, 3 May 2024
Many of the pieces sold on the spot, such as the Arrow necklace in emeralds and diamonds (the bracelet and earrings are pictured here), so, per client request, these are now off-limits to press.
—Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 3 May 2024
And off-limits, with a rule against fraternizing between housemates after unwanted drama with the previous girl.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 2 May 2024
The pact may offer Saudi Arabia an arrangement strong enough to need the U.S. Senate’s approval and even give the world’s biggest oil exporter access to advanced U.S. weapons that were previously off-limits.
—Bloomberg News, Orange County Register, 2 May 2024
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government has long declared Taksim off-limits for demonstrations on security grounds, but the square holds symbolic value for labor unions.
—Mehmet Guzel and Hyung-Jin Kim, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 May 2024
That strike destroyed a building that was part of an Iranian embassy complex, the sort of facility normally considered off-limits to attack.
—Russell Goldman, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2024
Censorship has real health implications Discussions involving women’s bodily functions and health have long been seen as off-limits, even as women’s pain and other health concerns are more likely to be dismissed by healthcare professionals.
—Eva Rothenberg, CNN, 14 Apr. 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.
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Cite this Entry
“Off-limits.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/off-limits. Accessed 19 May. 2024.
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