pain point

American  

[peyn point] / ˈpeɪn ˌpɔɪnt /

noun

1. a problem, frustration, or troublesome issue, especially one experienced by consumers, customers, or employees.

   Getting stuck in a slow checkout line is a major pain point for grocery shoppers.

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Etymology

Origin of pain point

First recorded in 2000–05

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pain point

Gasoline will be a pain point for travelers this Memorial Day weekend.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 23, 2026

“There’s a price for everything, and in this case the pain point is so high that we passed through that threshold.”

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 15, 2026

A neat, new feature aims to get rid of a pain point and make something easier and more efficient.

From Salon ● Apr. 13, 2026

That said, to anyone who’s had to catch a flight over the past few weeks, the hourslong wait at security checkpoints have been a bigger pain point than fuel prices and uncomfortable seats.

From Barron's ● Mar. 25, 2026

One issue cited by current and former employees is the lack of a cohesive experience across the different Copilots, a user pain point Nadella has flagged in the past.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 4, 2026