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.

My wildlife checklist grew: red kites, black-winged kites, common buzzards, golden eagles, Spanish imperial eagles, a goshawk, three types of owl, two kinds of vulture.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026

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

From Salon • May 22, 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

Chip seemed to be working from some sort of mental checklist.

From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

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