# tipping point

> English word · Noun

## Definitions
1. The point at which a slow, reversible change becomes irreversible, often with dramatic consequences.
2. A point in time when a group rapidly and dramatically changes its behavior by widely adopting a previously rare practice.
3. A point in time when a group rapidly and dramatically changes its behavior by widely adopting a previously rare practice.
4. An irreversible change in the climate system.

## Etymology
First use of the term appears c. 1959 in the New York Times.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/tipping-point