all-or-nothing

adjective

all-or-noth·​ing

ˌȯl-ər-ˈnə-thiŋ

1

: all-or-none

2

a

: accepting no less than everything

he's an all-or-nothing perfectionist

b

: risking everything

an all-or-nothing combat strategy

Examples of all-or-nothing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Risks of an All-or-Nothing Approach The problem with this all-or-nothing approach is that UNEP establishes global standards on some of the most pressing sustainability issues of our time, from forest preservation to plastics and chemical pollution. —Kristen Edgreen Kaufman, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025

How does his all-or-nothing game translate to the Premier League? —Thom Harris, New York Times, 7 July 2025

The system is based on a simple premise: Democracy works better if people aren’t forced to make an all-or-nothing choice with their vote. —David B. Caruso, Chicago Tribune, 24 June 2025

Though the goal should be three servings of flavonoid-rich foods daily, your diet is not all-or-nothing. —Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 23 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1764, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for all-or-nothing

• nothing

Medical Definition

all-or-nothing

adjective

all-or-noth·​ing -ˈnəth-iŋ 

: all-or-none