pain point

American

[peyn point] / ˈpeɪn ˌpɔɪnt /

noun

a problem, frustration, or troublesome issue, especially one experienced by consumers, customers, or employees.

Getting stuck in a slow checkout line is a major pain point for grocery shoppers.

Etymology

Origin of pain point

First recorded in 2000–05

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

One issue cited by current and former employees is the lack of a cohesive experience across the different Copilots, a user pain point Nadella has flagged in the past.

From The Wall Street Journal

Higher input costs could be a particular pain point in China, where growth momentum is more fragile.

From The Wall Street Journal

Housing affordability remains a key pain point for many American households.

From MarketWatch

Rapaport may be Season 4’s obvious pain point, but it has its pleasures too.

From Salon

Ultimately, this is one of the most memorable days of a person’s life and even if some of the requests made of you seem pedantic, you don’t want to be a pain point on what should be a joyous occasion.

From MarketWatch

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023