deadline

[ ded-lahyn ]

/ ˈdɛdˌlaɪn /

the time by which something must be finished or submitted; the latest time for finishing something: a five o'clock deadline.

a line or limit that must not be passed.

(formerly) a boundary around a military prison beyond which a prisoner could not venture without risk of being shot by the guards.

Origin of deadline

First recorded in 1855–60; dead + line¹

post·dead·line, adjective

It was Dec. 20, 1991, the deadline for the New Hampshire primary.

Mario Cuomo, a Frustrating Hero to Democrats, Is Dead at 82 |Eleanor Clift |January 2, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
But probably because we co-edited the Deadline Artists anthologies with our friend Jesse Angelo, we feel a fidelity to the form.

The Best Columns of 2014 |John Avlon, Errol Louis |December 31, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Conservatives have made clear they want Republican leaders to use the December deadline to confront the president on immigration.

The Coming GOP Freakout Over Immigration |Patricia Murphy |November 20, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
I love the quote that Sharon Klein gave in the release on Deadline.

The Good Wife’s Secret Weapon: Matt Czuchry on Cary Agos’s Terrible, Horrible Year |Kevin Fallon |October 27, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

The deadline set for the commission to report its findings is March 2015.

U.N. Gaza Investigator: 'Anti-Israel' Label Is a 'Slur' |Gideon Resnick |August 12, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
It had to be delivered exactly one week before the deadline that had been set by the receivers for closing the plant.

Nine Men in Time |Noel Miller Loomis
Now, the others have set a time limit, and the deadline is very close.

Shock Treatment |Stanley Mullen
And let's remember our deadline is October 1st, not Christmas.

Complete State of the Union Addresses from 1790 to 2006 |Various
As a result of our efforts in 1978, the Equal Rights Amendment's deadline for ratification was extended for three years.

Complete State of the Union Addresses from 1790 to 2006 |Various
It seemed as if we had shipped all the human dregs of the San Francisco deadline.

The Trail of '98 |Robert W. Service

deadline

/ (ˈdɛdˌlaɪn) /

a time limit for any activity