Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Prohibited; not to be entered or accessed: Used to describe an area or topic that is officially restricted or forbidden.
   • Beyond acceptable limits; unreasonable: Used to describe behavior, comments, or actions that are considered improper or unacceptable.

2. Adverb:

   • Outside the designated playing area: In sports, used to indicate that a ball or player has moved beyond the legal boundaries of the field or court.
   • Into a prohibited area: Moving or being in a place where one is not allowed.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The construction site is strictly out of bounds to all personnel. (Entry to the construction site is forbidden.)
  • His personal comments about her family were completely out of bounds. (His comments were unacceptable.)

• Adverb:

  • The referee signaled that the ball had gone out of bounds. (The ball was outside the playing area.)
  • The children wandered out of bounds and into the private garden. (The children went into a restricted area.)

Advanced Usage

• "to declare/place something out of bounds": to officially make an area or subject forbidden.
  • The principal declared the old gymnasium out of bounds due to safety concerns.
• "to be out of bounds for someone": to be inaccessible or inappropriate for a particular person or group.
  • That topic is out of bounds during our family dinners.

Variants and Related Words

• Boundary (n): A line that marks the limits of an area.
• Bounds (n, plural): Limits or boundaries.
• Out-of-bounds (adj, hyphenated): An alternative spelling, especially when used attributively before a noun (e.g., an area).

Synonyms

• Off-limits: Not to be entered or used.
• Forbidden: Not allowed; banned.
• Prohibited: Formally forbidden by law, rule, or other authority.

Related Phrases

• Out of bounds marker: (In sports like golf) A stake or other object indicating the boundary.
• Out of bounds play: (In sports like basketball or American football) A situation where the ball has gone out of bounds, leading to a stoppage and restart of play.

Related Idioms

• "to overstep the bounds": to go beyond what is considered acceptable behavior.
  • By reading her diary, he overstepped the bounds of their friendship.
• "within bounds": acceptable or permissible.
  • Please keep your criticism constructive and within bounds.

Noun

1. a line that marks the side boundary of a playing field