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.

Citigroup strategist Beata Manthey says the bank’s bear-market checklist shows “exuberance is building.”

From MarketWatch • Jun. 5, 2026

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

For every scene that feels false or unnecessary, there is one that works well; for every plot point that feels ticked off a checklist, something surprising pops up.

From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026

Let’s begin with a commonly accepted definition of arts integration from the Kennedy Center’s ArtsEdge website along with a checklist to help guide the teacher in the creation of an integrated lesson.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

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