cross-check

American  

[kraws-chek, kros-, kraws-chek, -chek, kros-] / ˈkrɔsˈtʃɛk, ˈkrɒs-, ˈkrɔsˌtʃɛk, -ˈtʃɛk, ˈkrɒs- /

verb (used with object)

cross-checks, present (3rd person singular) cross-checked, past participle, past cross-checking present participle

1. to determine the accuracy of (something) by checking it with various sources.

2. Ice Hockey. to execute a cross-check on (an opponent).

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noun

1. the act of cross-checking.

2. a means of cross-checking.

   I examined contemporary newspaper reports as a cross-check on his account.

3. Ice Hockey. an obstructing or impeding of the movement or progress of an opponent by placing the stick, with both hands, across the opponent's body or face.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• cross-checker
  noun

Inflected Forms

Participles

• cross-checking
  present
• cross-checked
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• cross-check
  simple
• cross-checks
  simple
• have cross-checked
  perfect
• has cross-checked
  perfect
• am cross-checking
  progressive
• are cross-checking
  progressive
• is cross-checking
  progressive
• have been cross-checking
  perfect progressive
• has been cross-checking
  perfect progressive

Past

• cross-checked
  simple
• had cross-checked
  perfect
• was cross-checking
  progressive
• were cross-checking
  progressive
• had been cross-checking
  perfect progressive

Future

• will cross-check
  simple
• will have cross-checked
  perfect
• will be cross-checking
  progressive
• will have been cross-checking
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of cross-check

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

This layered approach allows researchers to cross-check results in multiple ways.

From Science Daily • Apr. 12, 2026

Platforms like GoodRx provide a vital cross-check, listing similar coupons alongside separate pharmacy discounts that can sometimes beat federal rates.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

Last year Michigan Secretary of StateJocelyn Benson’s office said it had done a cross-check of the state’s voter rolls against driving records.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 2026

Moreover, quasi-redundancies can be a good thing in enabling agencies to cross-check their findings, says Tani Fukui, senior director of global economics & market strategy at MetLife Investment Management.

From Barron's • Nov. 22, 2025

We used to time our emissaries to their return and cross-check them where their wanderings intersected those of others—all were supposed to be trackers and one or two knew something about it.

From Pan-Islam by Bury, G. Wyman (George Wyman)