inflection point

American  

[in-flek-shuhn point] / ɪnˈflɛk ʃən ˌpɔɪnt /

noun

1. Also called point of inflection.  Also called flex point.  Mathematics. a point on a curve at which the curvature changes from convex to concave or vice versa.

2. a point at which a major or decisive change takes place; critical point.

   We’re at an inflection point where we’ll see the technology move forward at a much faster pace.

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Etymology

Origin of inflection point

First recorded in 1715–25

Example Sentences

Bringing a drug to market would mark a critical commercial inflection point.

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

“The memory trade is alive and well,” and investors are at an inflection point where they need to decide if dynamics within the cyclical industry have changed for good, said Cantor Fitzgerald analyst C.J.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026

It is too soon to say that the biggest war in Europe since World War II has reached an inflection point, many analysts warn.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

Liani added that Akamai’s cloud infrastructure services, or CIS, segment is at an inflection point with “momentum supported by AI workloads and edge inference use cases.”

From Barron's • May 13, 2026

“We are at an inflection point with AI, and the choices companies and regulators make now will shape how this technology impacts everyday people,” he said in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026