noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

checkpoint

CHEHK-poynt

Checkpoint (noun) means a location where people or vehicles are stopped for inspection, such as at a border or on a road. Example: “Soldiers manned the checkpoint at the edge of town.”

noun

A location where people or vehicles are stopped for inspection, such as at a border or on a road.

"Soldiers manned the checkpoint at the edge of town."

"Traffic backed up for miles at the security checkpoint."

In a video game, a saved point that a player can restart from after failing.

"The game saved my progress at the last checkpoint before I died."

A point at which the state of a system or database is saved so it can be restored later.

"The server crashed, but it recovered from the last checkpoint."

How to use checkpoint

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA stopping point for inspection — whether it's soldiers on a road, a saved point in a video game, or a database backup marker.

Common pairings

border checkpoint security checkpoint reach a checkpoint

Word forms

checkpointed past tense, checkpoints plural, checkpoints singular

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Soldiers manned the _____ at the edge of town.

Etymology

From check + point.

Rhymes for checkpoint

point joint anoint appoint endpoint pinpoint gunpoint viewpoint standpoint disappoint PowerPoint needlepoint

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Frequently asked questions

What does “checkpoint” mean?

The word “checkpoint” means a location where people or vehicles are stopped for inspection, such as at a border or on a road. In plain terms, a stopping point for inspection — whether it's soldiers on a road, a saved point in a video game, or a database backup marker.

How do you pronounce “checkpoint”?

“Checkpoint” is pronounced CHEHK-poynt (/ˈt͡ʃɛkˌpɔɪnt/ in IPA).

How do you use “checkpoint” in a sentence?

Here is “checkpoint” used in a sentence: “Soldiers manned the checkpoint at the edge of town.”

What part of speech is “checkpoint”?

“Checkpoint” is a noun.

Is “checkpoint” a common word?

“Checkpoint” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “checkpoint” have?

“Checkpoint” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a location where people or vehicles are stopped for inspection, such as at a border or on a road.