no-no

noun

ˈnō-ˌnō 

plural no-no's or no-nos

1

: something unacceptable or forbidden

2

: no-hitter

Examples of no-no in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That’s a no-no for the National Flood Insurance Program and the Florida Building Code, because single family homes are not usually designed to handle the weight of all that heavy, heavy water pushing on them. — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026

Apparently not, considering that multiple top stylists from across the country cite improper conditioning as the biggest hair care no-no their clients are guilty of. — Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 10 Oct. 2026

Maybe Williams doesn't know or doesn't care, but this is a ceremonial no-no at best and disrespectful at worst. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026

This uneven wear on the underbelly of a sneaker is a big no-no — prompting wearers to rotate out their running shoes at rapid rates. — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1942, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for no-no

• kono
• mono
• ono
• phono

Kids Definition

no-no

noun

ˈnō-ˌnō

plural no-no's or no-nos

: something that is unacceptable or forbidden