off-limits

adjective

off-lim·​its ˈȯf-ˈli-məts 

: 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

Los Angeles Animal Services staff argued that evidence dogs were kept largely off-limits for volunteers to walk because, unlike other animals at the shelter, the dogs weren’t the property of the city. — Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026

By updating the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive to blacklist specific misleading marketing tactics, however, EmpCo could lighten the load for watchdog groups by rendering once-routine declarations off-limits. — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 25 Sep. 2026

The castle is still off-limits to the public, and even the road to the site is closed. — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Like law enforcement agents everywhere, they’re disposed to bickering about jurisdiction or pumping each other for off-limits information. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for off-limits

• delimits
• limites
• limits

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