no-no

noun

ˈnō-ˌnō How to pronounce no-no (audio)
plural no-no's or no-nos
Synonyms of no-nonext
1
: something unacceptable or forbidden
2
: no-hitter

Examples of no-no in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Apparently, the broadcast producer decided this was a no-no and either didn’t let Chex know or realized too late what was happening. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 17 Aug. 2026 As has no doubt become evident even at this early stage of our article, identikit stadiums of the flat-pack variety located in retail parks are something of a no-no for this writer. — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026 The illicit cotton, which was stuffed into three large duffel bags, still contained seeds—a big no-no for CBP. — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 13 Aug. 2026 Never emptying the filter is another big no-no, and not draining the filter is also a mistake. — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for no-no

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1942, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of no-no was circa 1942

Rhymes for no-no

See All Rhymes for no-no

Browse Nearby Words

nonny-nonny
no-no
nonobjective
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“No-no.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/no-no. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

no-no

noun
ˈnō-ˌnō
plural no-no's or no-nos
: something that is unacceptable or forbidden

More from Merriam-Webster on no-no

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for no-no

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