cross-check

American  

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

verb (used with object)

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

• cross-checker noun

Etymology

Origin of cross-check

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

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

The effort seemed cobbled together by someone who typed “sanctuary” and a city’s name into Google and swallowed whatever the AI spat up without even bothering to cross-check with Wikipedia.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2025

Biometric fingerprinting kits are set to be given to those on the frontline, which the government says will enable immigration enforcement officers to cross-check detained individuals against police databases "on the spot".

From BBC • Dec. 15, 2024

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)