checkpoint

American  

[chek-point] / ˈtʃɛkˌpɔɪnt /

noun

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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Etymology

Origin of checkpoint

First recorded in 1935–40; check ¹ + point

Example Sentences

Sara, also in her 20s in west Tehran, told the BBC that she saw a teenager at a checkpoint on 25 March.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

The gifts are generally given to the Basij who carry out voluntary deployments such as manning a checkpoint, said Golkar, the Iranian security expert.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

Airlines might be more lenient when processing flight changes right now, but passengers shouldn’t expect a cash refund just because they were stuck at a security checkpoint.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 25, 2026

It was another incident drawing attention to the nation’s air travel infrastructure after a weekend of long security checkpoint lines that dominated headlines.

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

Enrique can hear cars at a U.S. entry checkpoint a few blocks away.

From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario