break-even point

American  

noun

1. the point at which the income from sale of a product or service equals the invested costs, resulting in neither profit nor loss; the stage at which income equals expenditure.

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Etymology

Origin of break-even point

An Americanism dating back to 1935–40

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

break-even point

“If we refinance now, we would have to stay in the home for at least five to eight years for the break-even point to even make sense a little bit,” Markowicz said.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026

By 2023 global dairy production had risen and prices had fallen back to 45p a litre, break-even point for most farmers.

From BBC ● May 27, 2026

Chief Executive Officer Marcus Lemonis said in a letter to shareholders the year-over-year revenue gap was narrowing, and that the company had lowered its break-even point for profitability by focusing on improving margins.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 23, 2026

That break-even point is usually somewhere in a person’s early 80s, although the actual age depends on taxes and inflation, advisers say.

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 5, 2026

“Perhaps there’s a break-even point for all propellants.”

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam