Agency Dictionary
pain point
nounPronunciation: /ˈpeɪn pɔɪnt/
In Portuguese: ponto de dor
Design
Brand & MarketingWhat does “pain point” mean?
A specific problem, difficulty or frustration that a person experiences when using a product or a service, and that design or marketing sets out to solve.
Etymology
A transparent English compound formed from pain and point. The combination names a specific, identifiable location of difficulty or frustration, drawing on the medical image of a point where pain is felt. The term spread through business writing, user research, and design practice, where it names any friction a user or customer encounters.
Usage note
Pain point is a staple of business, marketing, and product design discourse. Outside those contexts it can sound jargony; in general writing, friction, difficulty, or obstacle may be more natural.
Synonyms
- friction point
- bottleneck
- frustration
- obstacle
Word family
- pain
- point
- painkiller
- pinpoint
Rhymes with
- joint
- anoint
Usage examples
Before getting their hands on tools, they invest significant time and effort into understanding the needs, behaviours, and pain points of their target users.
Design.3 - The Disciplines of Design
Source editions
Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.
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