redline

1 of 2

noun

red·​line ˈred-ˈlīn 

: a recommended safety limit : the fastest, farthest, or highest point or degree considered safe

also : the red line which marks this point on a gauge

redline

2 of 2

verb

red·​line ˈred-ˌlīn  -ˈlīn 

redlined; redlining; redlines

intransitive verb

: to withhold home-loan funds or insurance from neighborhoods considered poor economic risks

transitive verb

: to discriminate against in housing or insurance

Examples of redline in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

If a renewal comes up, AI may draft it flawlessly and return it in two days, with balanced clauses and sensible redlines. — Patrick O'Connor, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026

The Gulf states must therefore collectively agree on redlines for Iranian behavior and coordinate on how to enforce them. — Allison Minor, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2026

Verb

Lydia Bell, a lifelong resident, said the morgue felt like a second wave of redlining. — Yona Gavino, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2026

One task asked an agent to redline a statement of work using a 160-file data room, 21 emails across nine threads, and four meeting notes. — Wen Shao, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1952, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1968, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for redline

• affine
• airline
• align
• aline
• assign
• baseline
• beamline
• benign
• bloodline
• bovine
• brucine
• byline