all-or-nothing

adjective

all-or-noth·​ing

ˌȯl-ər-ˈnə-thiŋ

1

: all-or-none

2

a

: accepting no less than everything

he's an all-or-nothing perfectionist

b

: risking everything

an all-or-nothing combat strategy

Examples of all-or-nothing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Reducing soda intake does not have to be all-or-nothing. —Brittany Poulson, Verywell Health, 30 Apr. 2026

Health care is not an all-or-nothing commodity, but an array of goods and services with differing levels of cost, effectiveness, and convenience. —Chris Pope, Washington Post, 21 Apr. 2026

Connor, based in Boulder, Colorado, told Fox News Digital the paleo diet is not an all-or-nothing eating plan. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026

The real mistake is treating seat selection as all-or-nothing rather than considering when comfort actually matters. —Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 20 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1764, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for all-or-nothing

• nothing

Medical Definition

all-or-nothing

adjective

all-or-noth·​ing -ˈnəth-iŋ 

: all-or-none