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

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

From Salon • May 22, 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

A portion of the pieces in the exhibition will be available for purchase, with a detailed checklist to come.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

At the end of the night, Ron sends us all home early and promises to come in tomorrow morning to do the closing checklist.

From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy

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