Definition
In ATC and area navigation (RNAV) usage, a fix or waypoint that has been identified by name, coordinates, or a defined relationship to a navigation reference, so that controllers and pilots can refer to a single, agreed location in the airspace.
Plain English
A specific spot in the sky that has been named or otherwise pinned down, so everyone knows exactly which spot is being talked about.
Context Anchor
Seen in navigation and instrument procedure language, especially when describing fixes, intersections, routes, and charted points.
Derivation
Point comes from a Latin word meaning a small mark or spot. Defined comes from Latin words meaning to set a boundary or limit. Together, the phrase means a location that has been pinned down clearly, not guessed or loosely described.
Why Pilots Care
Clearances, holding instructions, and reroutes all depend on both pilot and controller meaning the same location. If the point is not properly defined, the instruction cannot be flown accurately or legally.
Intuition Check
Do not read “point” here as a general area or a rough place. In this context, it means a specific, identifiable location established by navigation references.
Example Sentence 1
ATC cleared the flight direct to a point defined by the intersection of the 270 radial from the VOR and 25 DME.
Example Sentence 2
We will hold at the point defined by the VOR radial and distance from the airport.