checkpoint

American  

[chek-point] / ˈtʃɛkˌpɔɪnt /

noun

checkpoints plural

1. a place along a road, border, etc., where travelers are stopped for inspection.

2. a point or item, especially in a procedure, for notation, inspection, or confirmation.

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checkpoint British  

/ ˈtʃɛkˌpɔɪnt /

noun

1. a place, as at a frontier or in a motor rally, where vehicles or travellers are stopped for official identification, inspection, etc

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• checkpoints
  plural

Etymology

Origin of checkpoint

First recorded in 1935–40; check ¹ + point

Example Sentences

You only have to wait 90 minutes in the crushing D.C. heat to make it past the Secret Service checkpoint and into the Fan Fest proper.

From Slate • Jun. 16, 2026

At the halfway mark of the Olympic quadrennium, the USA Track & Field event serves as an important checkpoint for the sport’s hope to break out of the four-year popularity cycle.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 13, 2026

A group of young Palestinian children kicking a ball about near the checkpoint belied the tension and potential for violence in the area.

From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026

The protein acts as the trigger that starts each developmental stage and is also required for the checkpoint that marks its completion.

From Science Daily • Jun. 4, 2026

I would have to register at the checkpoint without raising suspicion.

From "Salt to the Sea" by Ruta Sepetys