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

The mill pumps out 502 hp and 331 ft lbs of torque, all of which is routed to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual, and redlines at 9,000 rpm. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 15 Apr. 2026

Iran has long viewed its nuclear program as a redline in negotiations with the West. —Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026

Verb

Sittenfeld's team compared areas that were historically redlined - cut off from investment and housing loans - with wealthier, greener neighborhoods. —Jacob Wycoff, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026

This wealth disparity stems from Connecticut’s long history of redlining. —Letters To The Editor, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 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
• byline
• canine