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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Noun
Russell fired a pinpoint bounce pass that found his teammate, who exploded toward the rim for the tough layup and a foul. Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024 Bailey pinpoints rumination as another way in which people avoid being emotionally vulnerable. Tanyel Mustafa, refinery29.com, 8 July 2024
Adjective
Second, the singular nature of Eve is not a quasi-creationist argument for a pinpoint origin of humanity in a unique woman. Stephen Jay Gould, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019 Saturday’s maneuver required pinpoint hand-eye coordination, body control and a flourish of power. Phil Thompson, SFChronicle.com, 16 Feb. 2020
Verb
And Starkey aimed for authenticity in pinpointing a particular midcentury moment in which the ideal male form was less creatine, more calisthenics. Ramin Setoodeh, Variety, 4 Nov. 2024 In addition to displaying her oeuvre, the museum has rounded up her various cultural and stylistic influences from Black Power Movement ephemera to pre-Hispanic sculptural references, pinpointing how Catlett’s intersectional politics were syncretic with her formal techniques. Shameekia Shantel Johnson, ARTnews.com, 4 Nov. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near pinpoint

Cite this Entry

“Pinpoint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pinpoint. Accessed 18 Nov. 2024.

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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!