pin·point
ˈpin-ˌpȯint 
1
: something that is extremely small or insignificant
2
: the point of a pin
3
: an extremely small or sharp point
1
: extremely fine or precise
2
: located, fixed, or directed with extreme precision
pinpoint targets
3
: small as a pinpoint
pinpointed; pinpointing; pinpoints
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
Fox News, 25 Feb. 2025
Not only was his velocity down, Matthews didn’t have pinpoint command.
—Dan Hayes, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025
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
Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 4 Mar. 2025
Alameda County pinpointed roads in its unincorporated areas that need to be prioritized for improvements to aid evacuation route planning.
—Grace Hase, The Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pinpoint
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Noun
Continue reading … -- IN OTHER NEWS RISKY RELIANCE – Study pinpoints where your post-dinner sweet tooth really comes from.
—Fox News, 25 Feb. 2025
Not only was his velocity down, Matthews didn’t have pinpoint command.
—Dan Hayes, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025
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
The work involves pinpointing the genes responsible for the traits that separate the mammoth from the Asian elephant—its close evolutionary relation—editing an elephant stem cell to express those traits, and introducing the stem cell into an elephant embryo.
—Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 4 Mar. 2025
Alameda County pinpointed roads in its unincorporated areas that need to be prioritized for improvements to aid evacuation route planning.
—Grace Hase, The Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pinpoint
Cite this Entry
“Pinpoint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pinpoint. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pinpoint
1 of 3 noun
pin·point
ˈpin-ˌpȯint
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 adjective1
: extremely fine or exact
pinpoint accuracy
2
: located, fixed, or directed with great exactness
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