tipping point

English

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

tipping point (plural tipping points)

(mathematics, catastrophe theory, figuratively, by extension) The point at which a slow, reversible change becomes irreversible, often with dramatic consequences.
(sociology) A point in time when a group rapidly and dramatically changes its behavior by widely adopting a previously rare practice.
1. The point in time at which some new technology becomes mainstream.
(climatology) An irreversible change in the climate system.
Coordinate term: tipping element
- 2005 August 11, Ian Sample, “Warming hits 'tipping point'”, in The Guardian‎^[1]:
  It is a scenario climate scientists have feared since first identifying "tipping points" - delicate thresholds where a slight rise in the Earth's temperature can cause a dramatic change in the environment that itself triggers a far greater increase in global temperatures.
- 2021 June 22, Sam Romano, “Rainforests are under siege. Here’s what you should know.”, in CNN‎^[2]:
  Some researchers worry that rainforests will soon reach a tipping point — a point of no return in which the once-lush forests transition to arid regions.
- 2021 August 5, Damian Carrington, “Climate crisis: Scientists spot warning signs of Gulf Stream collapse”, in The Guardian‎^[3]:
  Climate scientists have detected warning signs of the collapse of the Gulf Stream, one of the planet’s main potential tipping points.

the point at which a slow, reversible change becomes irreversible

irreversible change in the climate system