pinpoint

1 of 3

noun

pin·​point ˈpin-ˌpȯint How to pronounce pinpoint (audio)
1
: something that is extremely small or insignificant
2
: the point of a pin
3
: an extremely small or sharp point

pinpoint

2 of 3

adjective

1
: extremely fine or precise
2
: located, fixed, or directed with extreme precision
pinpoint targets
3
: small as a pinpoint

pinpoint

3 of 3

verb

pinpointed; pinpointing; pinpoints

transitive verb

1
: to locate or aim with great precision or accuracy
pinpoint a source
2
a
: to fix, determine, or identify with precision
pinpoint the cause
b
: to cause to stand out conspicuously : highlight

Examples of pinpoint in a Sentence

Adjective The pitcher showed pinpoint control of his fastball. the pinpoint measurement of brain tumors is critically important Verb They were finally able to pinpoint the cause of the fire. He pinpointed the city on the map. Rescuers were able to pinpoint where the lost girl was. The military uses computer imaging to pinpoint targets.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Instead of trying for a Hail Mary throw into the end zone, Allen found Dalton Kincaid streaking across the field and made a pinpoint throw to the tight end with one second left. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 8 Sep. 2025 Like Eli and Peyton, Arch is known for his arm strength and pinpoint accuracy, but unlike his uncles, Arch can also run with the ball. Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
His round featured a pinpoint six-iron to 10 feet for eagle at the seventh. Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 July 2025 Saturday’s maneuver required pinpoint hand-eye coordination, body control and a flourish of power. Phil Thompson, SFChronicle.com, 16 Feb. 2020
Verb
Fermi and the Einstein Probe could not pinpoint the source of GRB 250702B, with the explosion appearing to have come from the plane of our own galaxy, the Milky Way. Robert Lea, Space.com, 9 Sep. 2025 Chinese police blocked sensitive news, pinpointing dissidents with unnerving precision. Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pinpoint

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1670, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

1897, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1917, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pinpoint was in 1670

Cite this Entry

“Pinpoint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pinpoint. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

pinpoint

1 of 3 noun
pin·​point ˈpin-ˌpȯint How to pronounce pinpoint (audio)
1
: the point of a pin
2
: an extremely small or sharp point
a pinpoint of light in the darkness

pinpoint

2 of 3 verb
: to locate or identify exactly
pinpoint your career interests

pinpoint

3 of 3 adjective
1
: extremely fine or exact
pinpoint accuracy
2
: located, fixed, or directed with great exactness

More from Merriam-Webster on pinpoint

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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