# breakpoint

CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/breakpoint
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Definition

a place in a computer program where you tell it to stop so you can check for errors. It is also a point where a process or system changes suddenly.

For teachers: an intentional stopping or pausing place in a program's execution, typically used for debugging. In broader technical contexts, it refers to a threshold at which a significant change in physical or systemic behavior occurs.

## Examples

- The developer set a breakpoint to find the bug in the code.
- After the software crashed repeatedly, the engineer added a breakpoint at the start of the login function to inspect the variables.
- In structural engineering, the breakpoint represents the specific level of stress at which a material can no longer maintain its integrity and begins to fail.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in software development and materials science.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.