checklist

American

[chek-list] / ˈtʃɛkˌlɪst /

noun

Also check list a list of items, as names or tasks, for comparison, verification, or other checking purposes.

verb (used with object)

to enter (an item) on a checklist.

verb (used without object)

to enter items on a checklist.

Etymology

Origin of checklist

An Americanism dating back to 1850–55; check ¹ + list ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Treat the grocery store less like a checklist errand and more like a treasure hunt.

From Salon • May 22, 2026

If the government wants to know whether a model can meaningfully assist cyberattacks, biological misuse or autonomous weapons development, it shouldn’t publish a checklist every lab can optimize against and every adversary can study.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026

If you’re unsure where to start, here’s a simple checklist to reference once that first paycheck hits your bank account.

From MarketWatch • May 8, 2026

Lomas explained that she had been given a checklist by midwives ahead of Poppy's birth outlining potential warning signs, including scar pain, prolonged pushing and abnormalities in the baby's health.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

And before she talks to that person she keeps a checklist of all the things on her journey that have changed.

From "Look Both Ways" by Jason Reynolds

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023