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
Cite this Entry
“Inflection point.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inflection%20point. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.
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