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
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This industry is at an inflection point with the onset of interactive gaming. Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 22 Mar. 2025 This year’s research signals a clear inflection point. Janett Haas, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025 That incident proved an inflection point for Trudeau’s tenure. Paula Newton, CNN, 14 Mar. 2025 My thought bubble: This is a dangerous inflection point and giving a computer limbs is not a step to be taken lightly. Ina Fried, Axios, 12 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for inflection point

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1708, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of inflection point was circa 1708

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Cite this Entry

“Inflection point.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inflection%20point. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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