diff --git a/doc-build/md052.md b/doc-build/md052.md
index bf368f4a..064b8dbd 100644
--- a/doc-build/md052.md
+++ b/doc-build/md052.md
@@ -28,3 +28,14 @@ so "shortcut" syntax is ignored by default. To include "shortcut" syntax, set
 the `include_shortcut` parameter to `true`. Note that doing so produces warnings
 for *all* text in the document that *could* be a shortcut. If bracketed text is
 intentional, brackets can be escaped with the `\` character: `\[example\]`.
+
+If there are link labels that are deliberately unreferenced, they can be ignored
+by setting the `ignored_labels` parameter to the list of strings to ignore. The
+default value of this parameter ignores the checkbox syntax used by
+[GitHub Flavored Markdown task list items][gfm-tasklist]:
+
+```markdown
+- [x] Checked task list item
+```
+
+[gfm-tasklist]: https://github.github.com/gfm/#task-list-items-extension-
diff --git a/doc-build/md053.md b/doc-build/md053.md
index 9869bd1f..1da909c7 100644
--- a/doc-build/md053.md
+++ b/doc-build/md053.md
@@ -17,9 +17,9 @@ reference has the corresponding label. The "full", "collapsed", and "shortcut"
 formats are all supported.
 
 If there are reference definitions that are deliberately unreferenced, they can
-be ignored by setting the `ignored_definitions` parameter. The default value of
-this parameter ignores the following convention for adding non-HTML comments to
-Markdown:
+be ignored by setting the `ignored_definitions` parameter to the list of strings
+to ignore. The default value of this parameter ignores the following convention
+for adding non-HTML comments to Markdown:
 
 ```markdown
 [//]: # (This behaves like a comment)
diff --git a/doc/Rules.md b/doc/Rules.md
index 6287efe8..6ebb79bb 100644
--- a/doc/Rules.md
+++ b/doc/Rules.md
@@ -2278,6 +2278,7 @@ Aliases: `reference-links-images`
 
 Parameters:
 
+- `ignored_labels`: Ignored link labels (`string[]`, default `["x"]`)
 - `shortcut_syntax`: Include shortcut syntax (`boolean`, default `false`)
 
 Links and images in Markdown can provide the link destination or image source
@@ -2311,6 +2312,17 @@ the `include_shortcut` parameter to `true`. Note that doing so produces warnings
 for *all* text in the document that *could* be a shortcut. If bracketed text is
 intentional, brackets can be escaped with the `\` character: `\[example\]`.
 
+If there are link labels that are deliberately unreferenced, they can be ignored
+by setting the `ignored_labels` parameter to the list of strings to ignore. The
+default value of this parameter ignores the checkbox syntax used by
+[GitHub Flavored Markdown task list items][gfm-tasklist]:
+
+```markdown
+- [x] Checked task list item
+```
+
+[gfm-tasklist]: https://github.github.com/gfm/#task-list-items-extension-
+
 <a name="md053"></a>
 
 ## `MD053` - Link and image reference definitions should be needed
@@ -2344,9 +2356,9 @@ reference has the corresponding label. The "full", "collapsed", and "shortcut"
 formats are all supported.
 
 If there are reference definitions that are deliberately unreferenced, they can
-be ignored by setting the `ignored_definitions` parameter. The default value of
-this parameter ignores the following convention for adding non-HTML comments to
-Markdown:
+be ignored by setting the `ignored_definitions` parameter to the list of strings
+to ignore. The default value of this parameter ignores the following convention
+for adding non-HTML comments to Markdown:
 
 ```markdown
 [//]: # (This behaves like a comment)
diff --git a/doc/md052.md b/doc/md052.md
index 994d98ee..e8544f70 100644
--- a/doc/md052.md
+++ b/doc/md052.md
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ Aliases: `reference-links-images`
 
 Parameters:
 
+- `ignored_labels`: Ignored link labels (`string[]`, default `["x"]`)
 - `shortcut_syntax`: Include shortcut syntax (`boolean`, default `false`)
 
 Links and images in Markdown can provide the link destination or image source
@@ -38,3 +39,14 @@ so "shortcut" syntax is ignored by default. To include "shortcut" syntax, set
 the `include_shortcut` parameter to `true`. Note that doing so produces warnings
 for *all* text in the document that *could* be a shortcut. If bracketed text is
 intentional, brackets can be escaped with the `\` character: `\[example\]`.
+
+If there are link labels that are deliberately unreferenced, they can be ignored
+by setting the `ignored_labels` parameter to the list of strings to ignore. The
+default value of this parameter ignores the checkbox syntax used by
+[GitHub Flavored Markdown task list items][gfm-tasklist]:
+
+```markdown
+- [x] Checked task list item
+```
+
+[gfm-tasklist]: https://github.github.com/gfm/#task-list-items-extension-
diff --git a/doc/md053.md b/doc/md053.md
index 7caf0290..96b1104d 100644
--- a/doc/md053.md
+++ b/doc/md053.md
@@ -29,9 +29,9 @@ reference has the corresponding label. The "full", "collapsed", and "shortcut"
 formats are all supported.
 
 If there are reference definitions that are deliberately unreferenced, they can
-be ignored by setting the `ignored_definitions` parameter. The default value of
-this parameter ignores the following convention for adding non-HTML comments to
-Markdown:
+be ignored by setting the `ignored_definitions` parameter to the list of strings
+to ignore. The default value of this parameter ignores the following convention
+for adding non-HTML comments to Markdown:
 
 ```markdown
 [//]: # (This behaves like a comment)
diff --git a/lib/configuration-strict.d.ts b/lib/configuration-strict.d.ts
index 045d6d4e..ca4290d2 100644
--- a/lib/configuration-strict.d.ts
+++ b/lib/configuration-strict.d.ts
@@ -996,6 +996,10 @@ export interface ConfigurationStrict {
   MD052?:
     | boolean
     | {
+        /**
+         * Ignored link labels
+         */
+        ignored_labels?: string[];
         /**
          * Include shortcut syntax
          */
@@ -1007,6 +1011,10 @@ export interface ConfigurationStrict {
   "reference-links-images"?:
     | boolean
     | {
+        /**
+         * Ignored link labels
+         */
+        ignored_labels?: string[];
         /**
          * Include shortcut syntax
          */
diff --git a/lib/md052.mjs b/lib/md052.mjs
index 975c45c6..a87215e3 100644
--- a/lib/md052.mjs
+++ b/lib/md052.mjs
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ export default {
   "function": function MD052(params, onError) {
     const { config, lines } = params;
     const shortcutSyntax = config.shortcut_syntax || false;
+    const ignoredLabels = new Set(config.ignored_labels || [ "x" ]);
     const { definitions, references, shortcuts } = getReferenceLinkImageData();
     const entries = shortcutSyntax ?
       [ ...references.entries(), ...shortcuts.entries() ] :
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@ export default {
     // Look for links/images that use an undefined link reference
     for (const reference of entries) {
       const [ label, datas ] = reference;
-      if (!definitions.has(label)) {
+      if (!definitions.has(label) && !ignoredLabels.has(label)) {
         for (const data of datas) {
           const [ lineIndex, index, length ] = data;
           // Context will be incomplete if reporting for a multi-line link
diff --git a/schema/.markdownlint.jsonc b/schema/.markdownlint.jsonc
index b1496dca..78382bd2 100644
--- a/schema/.markdownlint.jsonc
+++ b/schema/.markdownlint.jsonc
@@ -275,6 +275,10 @@
 
   // MD052/reference-links-images : Reference links and images should use a label that is defined : https://github.com/DavidAnson/markdownlint/blob/v0.37.4/doc/md052.md
   "MD052": {
+    // Ignored link labels
+    "ignored_labels": [
+      "x"
+    ],
     // Include shortcut syntax
     "shortcut_syntax": false
   },
diff --git a/schema/.markdownlint.yaml b/schema/.markdownlint.yaml
index b905e45a..91248b60 100644
--- a/schema/.markdownlint.yaml
+++ b/schema/.markdownlint.yaml
@@ -247,6 +247,9 @@ MD051:
 
 # MD052/reference-links-images : Reference links and images should use a label that is defined : https://github.com/DavidAnson/markdownlint/blob/v0.37.4/doc/md052.md
 MD052:
+  # Ignored link labels
+  ignored_labels:
+    - "x"
   # Include shortcut syntax
   shortcut_syntax: false
 
diff --git a/schema/build-config-schema.mjs b/schema/build-config-schema.mjs
index 553fc9d3..90980553 100644
--- a/schema/build-config-schema.mjs
+++ b/schema/build-config-schema.mjs
@@ -493,6 +493,14 @@ for (const rule of rules) {
       break;
     case "MD052":
       scheme.properties = {
+        "ignored_labels": {
+          "description": "Ignored link labels",
+          "type": "array",
+          "items": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "default": [ "x" ]
+        },
         "shortcut_syntax": {
           "description": "Include shortcut syntax",
           "type": "boolean",
diff --git a/schema/markdownlint-config-schema-strict.json b/schema/markdownlint-config-schema-strict.json
index 34514781..0efd5824 100644
--- a/schema/markdownlint-config-schema-strict.json
+++ b/schema/markdownlint-config-schema-strict.json
@@ -1549,6 +1549,16 @@
       ],
       "default": true,
       "properties": {
+        "ignored_labels": {
+          "description": "Ignored link labels",
+          "type": "array",
+          "items": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "default": [
+            "x"
+          ]
+        },
         "shortcut_syntax": {
           "description": "Include shortcut syntax",
           "type": "boolean",
@@ -1565,6 +1575,16 @@
       ],
       "default": true,
       "properties": {
+        "ignored_labels": {
+          "description": "Ignored link labels",
+          "type": "array",
+          "items": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "default": [
+            "x"
+          ]
+        },
         "shortcut_syntax": {
           "description": "Include shortcut syntax",
           "type": "boolean",
diff --git a/schema/markdownlint-config-schema.json b/schema/markdownlint-config-schema.json
index 2f5860d7..39bce20a 100644
--- a/schema/markdownlint-config-schema.json
+++ b/schema/markdownlint-config-schema.json
@@ -1549,6 +1549,16 @@
       ],
       "default": true,
       "properties": {
+        "ignored_labels": {
+          "description": "Ignored link labels",
+          "type": "array",
+          "items": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "default": [
+            "x"
+          ]
+        },
         "shortcut_syntax": {
           "description": "Include shortcut syntax",
           "type": "boolean",
@@ -1565,6 +1575,16 @@
       ],
       "default": true,
       "properties": {
+        "ignored_labels": {
+          "description": "Ignored link labels",
+          "type": "array",
+          "items": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "default": [
+            "x"
+          ]
+        },
         "shortcut_syntax": {
           "description": "Include shortcut syntax",
           "type": "boolean",
diff --git a/test/markdownlint-test.mjs b/test/markdownlint-test.mjs
index b78671b3..19cc6a85 100644
--- a/test/markdownlint-test.mjs
+++ b/test/markdownlint-test.mjs
@@ -908,7 +908,7 @@ test("readme", async(t) => {
 });
 
 test("validateJsonUsingConfigSchemaStrict", async(t) => {
-  t.plan(199);
+  t.plan(201);
   // @ts-ignore
   const ajv = new Ajv(ajvOptions);
   const validateSchemaStrict = ajv.compile(configSchemaStrict);
diff --git a/test/reference-links-and-images-ignored-labels-empty.md b/test/reference-links-and-images-ignored-labels-empty.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7339e58d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/reference-links-and-images-ignored-labels-empty.md
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# Reference Links and Images (Ignored Labels Empty)
+
+[full][full] {MD052}
+
+[collapsed][] {MD052}
+
+[shortcut] {MD052}
+
+[invalid][invalid] {MD052}
+
+- [ ] Unchecked task list item
+- [x] Checked task list item {MD052}
+
+<!-- markdownlint-configure-file {
+  "reference-links-images": {
+    "ignored_labels": [],
+    "shortcut_syntax": true
+  }
+} -->
diff --git a/test/reference-links-and-images-ignored-labels.md b/test/reference-links-and-images-ignored-labels.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3b055e83
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/reference-links-and-images-ignored-labels.md
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+# Reference Links and Images (Ignored Labels)
+
+[full][full]
+
+[collapsed][]
+
+[shortcut]
+
+[invalid][invalid] {MD052}
+
+- [ ] Unchecked task list item
+- [x] Checked task list item {MD052}
+
+<!-- markdownlint-configure-file {
+  "reference-links-images": {
+    "ignored_labels": [
+      "full",
+      "collapsed",
+      "shortcut"
+    ],
+    "shortcut_syntax": true
+  }
+} -->
diff --git a/test/reference-links-and-images-shortcuts.md b/test/reference-links-and-images-shortcuts.md
index e6765d64..16126f9f 100644
--- a/test/reference-links-and-images-shortcuts.md
+++ b/test/reference-links-and-images-shortcuts.md
@@ -84,6 +84,16 @@ Footnote[^1]
 
 Missing[^2] {MD052}
 
+## GitHub Flavored Markdown Task List Items
+
+- [ ] Unchecked task list item
+- [x] Checked task list item
+
+- [x] alpha
+  - [ ] beta
+  - [x] charlie
+- [ ] delta
+
 ## Valid Labels
 
 [label]: https://example.com/label
diff --git a/test/reference-links-and-images.md b/test/reference-links-and-images.md
index 95fdd4eb..474ad548 100644
--- a/test/reference-links-and-images.md
+++ b/test/reference-links-and-images.md
@@ -242,3 +242,8 @@ Text with a [^footnote] in it
 [^footnote]: Footnote with an [embedded-reference][] in it
 
 [embedded-reference]: https://example.com/embedded-reference
+
+## GitHub Flavored Markdown Task List Items
+
+- [ ] Unchecked task list item
+- [x] Checked task list item
diff --git a/test/snapshots/markdownlint-test-scenarios.mjs.md b/test/snapshots/markdownlint-test-scenarios.mjs.md
index 765047fe..f28f91c4 100644
--- a/test/snapshots/markdownlint-test-scenarios.mjs.md
+++ b/test/snapshots/markdownlint-test-scenarios.mjs.md
@@ -47639,6 +47639,180 @@ Generated by [AVA](https://avajs.dev).
       `,
     }
 
+## reference-links-and-images-ignored-labels-empty.md
+
+> Snapshot 1
+
+    {
+      errors: [
+        {
+          errorContext: '[full][full]',
+          errorDetail: 'Missing link or image reference definition: "full"',
+          errorRange: [
+            1,
+            12,
+          ],
+          fixInfo: null,
+          lineNumber: 3,
+          ruleDescription: 'Reference links and images should use a label that is defined',
+          ruleInformation: 'https://github.com/DavidAnson/markdownlint/blob/v0.0.0/doc/md052.md',
+          ruleNames: [
+            'MD052',
+            'reference-links-images',
+          ],
+        },
+        {
+          errorContext: '[collapsed][]',
+          errorDetail: 'Missing link or image reference definition: "collapsed"',
+          errorRange: [
+            1,
+            13,
+          ],
+          fixInfo: null,
+          lineNumber: 5,
+          ruleDescription: 'Reference links and images should use a label that is defined',
+          ruleInformation: 'https://github.com/DavidAnson/markdownlint/blob/v0.0.0/doc/md052.md',
+          ruleNames: [
+            'MD052',
+            'reference-links-images',
+          ],
+        },
+        {
+          errorContext: '[shortcut]',
+          errorDetail: 'Missing link or image reference definition: "shortcut"',
+          errorRange: [
+            1,
+            10,
+          ],
+          fixInfo: null,
+          lineNumber: 7,
+          ruleDescription: 'Reference links and images should use a label that is defined',
+          ruleInformation: 'https://github.com/DavidAnson/markdownlint/blob/v0.0.0/doc/md052.md',
+          ruleNames: [
+            'MD052',
+            'reference-links-images',
+          ],
+        },
+        {
+          errorContext: '[invalid][invalid]',
+          errorDetail: 'Missing link or image reference definition: "invalid"',
+          errorRange: [
+            1,
+            18,
+          ],
+          fixInfo: null,
+          lineNumber: 9,
+          ruleDescription: 'Reference links and images should use a label that is defined',
+          ruleInformation: 'https://github.com/DavidAnson/markdownlint/blob/v0.0.0/doc/md052.md',
+          ruleNames: [
+            'MD052',
+            'reference-links-images',
+          ],
+        },
+        {
+          errorContext: '[x]',
+          errorDetail: 'Missing link or image reference definition: "x"',
+          errorRange: [
+            3,
+            3,
+          ],
+          fixInfo: null,
+          lineNumber: 12,
+          ruleDescription: 'Reference links and images should use a label that is defined',
+          ruleInformation: 'https://github.com/DavidAnson/markdownlint/blob/v0.0.0/doc/md052.md',
+          ruleNames: [
+            'MD052',
+            'reference-links-images',
+          ],
+        },
+      ],
+      fixed: `# Reference Links and Images (Ignored Labels Empty)␊
+      ␊
+      [full][full] {MD052}␊
+      ␊
+      [collapsed][] {MD052}␊
+      ␊
+      [shortcut] {MD052}␊
+      ␊
+      [invalid][invalid] {MD052}␊
+      ␊
+      - [ ] Unchecked task list item␊
+      - [x] Checked task list item {MD052}␊
+      ␊
+      <!-- markdownlint-configure-file {␊
+        "reference-links-images": {␊
+          "ignored_labels": [],␊
+          "shortcut_syntax": true␊
+        }␊
+      } -->␊
+      `,
+    }
+
+## reference-links-and-images-ignored-labels.md
+
+> Snapshot 1
+
+    {
+      errors: [
+        {
+          errorContext: '[invalid][invalid]',
+          errorDetail: 'Missing link or image reference definition: "invalid"',
+          errorRange: [
+            1,
+            18,
+          ],
+          fixInfo: null,
+          lineNumber: 9,
+          ruleDescription: 'Reference links and images should use a label that is defined',
+          ruleInformation: 'https://github.com/DavidAnson/markdownlint/blob/v0.0.0/doc/md052.md',
+          ruleNames: [
+            'MD052',
+            'reference-links-images',
+          ],
+        },
+        {
+          errorContext: '[x]',
+          errorDetail: 'Missing link or image reference definition: "x"',
+          errorRange: [
+            3,
+            3,
+          ],
+          fixInfo: null,
+          lineNumber: 12,
+          ruleDescription: 'Reference links and images should use a label that is defined',
+          ruleInformation: 'https://github.com/DavidAnson/markdownlint/blob/v0.0.0/doc/md052.md',
+          ruleNames: [
+            'MD052',
+            'reference-links-images',
+          ],
+        },
+      ],
+      fixed: `# Reference Links and Images (Ignored Labels)␊
+      ␊
+      [full][full]␊
+      ␊
+      [collapsed][]␊
+      ␊
+      [shortcut]␊
+      ␊
+      [invalid][invalid] {MD052}␊
+      ␊
+      - [ ] Unchecked task list item␊
+      - [x] Checked task list item {MD052}␊
+      ␊
+      <!-- markdownlint-configure-file {␊
+        "reference-links-images": {␊
+          "ignored_labels": [␊
+            "full",␊
+            "collapsed",␊
+            "shortcut"␊
+          ],␊
+          "shortcut_syntax": true␊
+        }␊
+      } -->␊
+      `,
+    }
+
 ## reference-links-and-images-shortcuts.md
 
 > Snapshot 1
@@ -47657,7 +47831,7 @@ Generated by [AVA](https://avajs.dev).
             editColumn: 7,
             insertText: '<https://example.com/footnote>',
           },
-          lineNumber: 106,
+          lineNumber: 116,
           ruleDescription: 'Bare URL used',
           ruleInformation: 'https://github.com/DavidAnson/markdownlint/blob/v0.0.0/doc/md034.md',
           ruleNames: [
@@ -47848,6 +48022,16 @@ Generated by [AVA](https://avajs.dev).
       ␊
       Missing[^2] {MD052}␊
       ␊
+      ## GitHub Flavored Markdown Task List Items␊
+      ␊
+      - [ ] Unchecked task list item␊
+      - [x] Checked task list item␊
+      ␊
+      - [x] alpha␊
+        - [ ] beta␊
+        - [x] charlie␊
+      - [ ] delta␊
+      ␊
       ## Valid Labels␊
       ␊
       [label]: https://example.com/label␊
@@ -48359,6 +48543,11 @@ Generated by [AVA](https://avajs.dev).
       [^footnote]: Footnote with an [embedded-reference][] in it␊
       ␊
       [embedded-reference]: https://example.com/embedded-reference␊
+      ␊
+      ## GitHub Flavored Markdown Task List Items␊
+      ␊
+      - [ ] Unchecked task list item␊
+      - [x] Checked task list item␊
       `,
     }
 
diff --git a/test/snapshots/markdownlint-test-scenarios.mjs.snap b/test/snapshots/markdownlint-test-scenarios.mjs.snap
index f585247b..f10223c2 100644
Binary files a/test/snapshots/markdownlint-test-scenarios.mjs.snap and b/test/snapshots/markdownlint-test-scenarios.mjs.snap differ