# juncture

/ˈdʒəŋktʃɝ/ (US) · /dʒˈʌŋktʃɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/juncture
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. a point in time

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a particular point in time, especially one that is very important or where a decision must be made.

For teachers: a particular point in time, typically one characterized by a critical set of circumstances or a need for decision-making.

- At this juncture, we need to decide whether to continue the project or stop.
- At this critical juncture in the negotiations, any minor misunderstanding could lead to a total collapse of the peace process.

Usage: Commonly used in the fixed phrase 'at this juncture'.

### 2. a physical joint

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

a place where two things are joined together.

For teachers: a place where two things are joined; a junction or seam.

- The pipes were leaking at the juncture where they met the main tank.
- The engineer identified a structural weakness at the juncture of the two support beams, necessitating immediate reinforcement.

Usage: Often used in technical or architectural contexts to describe where components meet.

### 3. speech sounds

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the way two sounds in a language are joined when you speak.

For teachers: the phonological transition or boundary between two consecutive speech sounds, serving as a cue to distinguish meaning.

- The difference between 'a name' and 'an aim' is a matter of juncture.
- Linguists study juncture to understand how listeners differentiate between identical sequences of phonemes that carry distinct semantic meanings.

Usage: Used as a technical term in phonetics and linguistics.

## Examples

- At this juncture, we must decide whether to continue the project.
- Negotiations have reached a critical juncture where both parties must agree on the final budget or risk a total shutdown.
- While the historical data is useful, it provides little guidance at this specific juncture, as the current market volatility is unprecedented in the modern era.

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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.