checkpoint

noun

check·​point ˈchek-ˌpȯint 

: a point at which a check is performed

vehicles were inspected at various checkpoints

Examples of checkpoint in a Sentence

Our car was stopped at a police checkpoint before we were permitted to cross the border.

Recent Examples on the Web

Tuesday, Cook passed through the armed checkpoint at Whipple carrying a list of about seven people, folks who have been picked up by federal agents for one reason or another, or reasons unknown, and now cannot be located. —Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026

Starting in July 2025, the Transportation Security Administration allowed travelers to keep their shoes on when passing through checkpoints. —Dale Denwalt, Oklahoman, 1 Feb. 2026

Lorincz said airport and TSA representatives will be able to direct travelers to said signage before they are processed through a TSA checkpoint. —Isabel Yip, NBC news, 31 Jan. 2026

After driving through the first security checkpoint, a second guard inspects her rental car and verifies her ID. —Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for checkpoint

• adjoint
• anoint
• appoint
• conjoint
• disjoint
• endpoint
• gunpoint
• midpoint
• nonpoint
• pinpoint
• standpoint
• viewpoint

Kids Definition

checkpoint

noun

check·​point ˈchek-ˌpȯint 

: a point at which a check is carried out

vehicles were inspected at different checkpoints

Legal Definition

checkpoint

noun

check·​point

: a point at which an inspection or investigation is performed

a checkpoint to uncover drunk drivers