redline

/ˈrɛdˌlaɪn/
noun
  1. A limit or boundary that should not be crossed, often used in negotiations or rules.
    • The company set a redline on how much overtime employees can work.
    • In the contract, the payment deadline is a redline that cannot be ignored.
    • Crossing that redline would mean losing the deal.
  2. A red line drawn on a map to indicate a boundary or restricted area.
    • During the war, the redline marked the border of the safe zone.
    • The redline on the map shows the no-fishing zone.
    • The city's redline indicated areas where new construction was banned.
  3. The practice of denying services (such as banking or insurance) to people in certain neighborhoods, often based on race.
    • Activists fought against redline to ensure fair access to credit.
    • The bank was accused of redline in minority communities.
    • Redline policies in the 20th century prevented many families from getting home loans.
verb
  1. To mark or set a limit that must not be exceeded.
    • The teacher redlined the word count for the essay.
    • The manager redlined the budget to prevent overspending.
    • They redlined the speed limit at 65 miles per hour for safety.
  2. To refuse services to people in certain areas based on discriminatory criteria.
    • The housing authority was found to redline predominantly Black neighborhoods.
    • The report showed how lenders redlined entire districts.
    • Banks that redline can face legal penalties.
  3. To operate an engine at maximum speed or power.
    • He redlined the car's engine during the race.
    • The mechanic warned not to redline the engine too often.
    • The tachometer showed the engine was redlining.
What does "redline" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean