defining moment

American  

noun

1. a point at which the essential nature or character of a person, group, etc., is revealed or identified.

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Etymology

Origin of defining moment

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

Kvaratskhelia and Dembele combined for the game's defining moment, while 20-year-old Desire Doue - the young face of the new PSG - tormented Vincent Kompany's side, coming close on several occasions in the second half.

From BBC • May 6, 2026

“Today marks the next phase of the Arm compute platform and a defining moment for our company.”

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

Kaja Kallas, who leads the European Commission’s foreign and security policy, described the killing of Khamenei as “a defining moment in Iran’s history.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 1, 2026

Father James Martin: This was a defining moment for me.

From Slate • Feb. 21, 2026

At a defining moment in American history, slavery not only continued, it was granted the Constitution’s official blessing.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis