| 1. | Aviation. the point in a flight at which an aircraft will lack sufficient fuel to return to its starting point. |
| 2. | the critical point in an undertaking, decision-making process, etc., where one has committed oneself irrevocably to a course of action or policy. |
| point of no return n. pl. points of no return
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point of no return
The place in a course of action beyond which reversal is not possible. For example, Once the contract is signed, we've reached the point of no return. This expression comes from aviation, where it signifies the point where an aircraft does not have enough fuel to return to the starting point. [c. 1940]