inflection point

noun

1

: a moment when significant change occurs or may occur : turning point

At 18, Bobby is at an inflection point that will largely determine the course of his life.

—Stacy Perman

… the gradual move away from big-iron machines toward work stations and personal computers has been going on for years in corporate America—but the inflection point came suddenly.

—Steve Lohr

It depends on us, on the choices we make, particularly at certain inflection points in history; particularly when big changes are happening and everything seems up for grabs.

—Barack Obama

2

mathematics : a point on a curve that separates an arc concave upward from one concave downward and vice versa

Examples of inflection point in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Analysts on Wall Street viewed Snowflake's results as a sign that its AI monetization strategy is reaching an inflection point. —Samantha Subin, CNBC, 28 May 2026

Americans are at an inflection point. —Tara Sonenshine, Baltimore Sun, 27 May 2026

There was a clear inflection point. —Ashoka, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026

The Christie’s—Kiran Nadar linkup arrives amid an inflection point for the Indian and South Asian art markets. —Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 22 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1708, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for inflection point

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