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

American armed forces launched the war alongside Israel, which has different interests, redlines, and objectives. — Erik Lin-Greenberg, Foreign Affairs, 31 July 2026

As the revs climb toward the 7,000-rpm redline, the rear wing deploys, pressing the car harder into the pavement. — Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026

Verb

The sellers write the contract, and a few, if any, buyers are big enough to redline it, one clause at a time. — Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026

The history of redlining, segregation and the lack of generational wealth shows how decisions made by the founding fathers created the landscape that exists for Black people in present day. — Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 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