Hard Stop
Noun · Slang & Abbreviations
Definitions
A firm non-negotiable end point in time, scope, or process. In engineering slang, hard stops matter because too many technical plans quietly assume one more hour or one more exception will always appear.
In plain English: A firm boundary or deadline that cannot be extended casually.
Example: "The deploy had a hard stop at the end of the support window, which forced everyone to decide whether the remaining risk was understood enough to proceed."