A checkpoint is a place where people or vehicles must stop to be checked or inspected before continuing. At a checkpoint, guards or officials might verify identification, search for prohibited items, or make sure travelers have permission to pass through.

You encounter checkpoints in many situations. At an airport security checkpoint, officers examine luggage and scan passengers before they board planes. During a marathon or long race, runners pass through checkpoints where volunteers record their progress and offer water. In video games, reaching a checkpoint means you've hit a save point: if your character gets defeated later, you restart from that checkpoint instead of beginning the entire level again.

Checkpoints serve important purposes: they help maintain security, track progress, or control movement between areas. Border checkpoints between countries ensure travelers have proper documentation. At a checkpoint, you're essentially proving you should be allowed to move forward, whether that means showing your ID, getting your time recorded, or simply demonstrating you've made it that far on your journey.