touchpoint

noun

touch·​point ˈtəch-ˌpȯint 

variants or touch point or less commonly touch-point

plural touchpoints or touch points also touch-points

1

: an interaction for the purpose of building or maintaining a relationship

It's people saying 'how was your weekend?' or 'how are the kids?' It's those informal touchpoints that we were missing.

—Ellen Mann

Creating a cohort with other new hires … and then setting up touch points with other employees in the organization through informal mentorships really makes all the difference …

—Rohshann Pilla

especially : an interaction between an existing or potential customer and a business

A common marketing principle is that it takes seven to nine meaningful touchpoints with a prospect or client before they decide to give you work.

—Linda T. Sanders

… should take it as a chance to generate an additional positive touchpoint with their customers, for example by being friendly and providing a smooth and timely repair service.

—Katja Gelbrich

… the need for genuine human touch-points is rising, and those businesses that use them to stand out will be poised to elevate their efforts …

—Lane Ellis

2

: a place where two objects are in or come into contact

Silver plate with a larger percent of overlay on the back may wear longer because "touch points" (areas that come in contact with the table or dishware) are more protected.

—Maurice Minno and Norma Gray

especially : a place on the screen of an electronic device that is designed to be touched (as with a finger or stylus) in order to perform a task (such as opening an app)

It features a central … touch point to bring the screen back to the main menu …

—Eileen Falkenberg-Hull

Basically, resolution is defined by the number of distinct areas on the screen that can be recognized by the monitor as unique touch points. Higher resolutions are permitting touch screens to compete for the first time with the mouse and other pointing devices …

—Computerworld

3

: an instance of physical contact between a person and an object

We're trying to streamline our process and reduce the number of touchpoints. The less time you touch a product, the fewer people you need to touch it.

—Edward Massood, quoted at furnituretoday.com

also : a place where such contact occurs

… including cleaning and disinfecting vehicles on a "nightly" basis and wiping down "touch points" at major stations every four hours.

—Andrew Martinez

4

: something (such as a place or event) that is of special significance to a person or group

Plenty of early-stage romantic banter is all about learning each other's cultural touchpoints.

—Eliza Dumais

The current touchpoint for the anti-nuclear movement is a French nuclear plant at Cattenom …

—The Economist

Over the years, the house served as a family touchpoint for countless birthdays and other milestones.

—Phil Luciano

5

: a significant transition during a child's development

As described by T. Berry Brazelton, one of this nation's favorite pediatricians, a touchpoint is any one of the giant steps children take in the course of normal development. … They come in fairly predictable order and at a fairly predictable pace.

—H. J. Cummins

Word History

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Medical Definition

touchpoint

noun

touch·​point ˈtəch-ˌpȯint 

variants or touch point also touch-point

: a significant transition during a child's development

Touchpoints are periods during the first years of life during which children's spurts in development result in disruption in the family system. … They are centered on caregiving themes that matter to parents (e.g. feeding, discipline), rather than traditional milestones. The child's negotiation of these touchpoints can be seen as a source of satisfaction and encouragement for the family system.

—T. Berry Brazelton and Joshua Sparrow, Brazelton Touchpoints Center