denouement

American  

[dey-noo-mahn] / ˌdeɪ nuˈmɑ̃ /

Or dénouement

noun

1. the final resolution of the intricacies of a plot, as of a drama or novel.

2. the place in the plot at which this occurs.

3. the outcome or resolution of a doubtful series of occurrences.

   Synonyms:

   upshot, end, conclusion, solution

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denouement British  

/ deɪˈnuːmɒn, denumɑ̃ /

noun

1. 1. the final clarification or resolution of a plot in a play or other work

   2. the point at which this occurs

2. final outcome; solution

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dénouement Cultural  

1. The solution or outcome of the plot of a play or novel: “In the dénouement of many tragedies, the main character dies.”

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Etymology

Origin of denouement

First recorded in 1745–55; from French: literally, “an untying,” equivalent to dénouer “to untie,” Old French desnoer ( des- + noer “to knot,” from Latin nōdāre, derivative of nōdus “knot”) + -ment; de-, -ment

Explanation

You know that part of every movie after the big action scene, where things get explained, and the characters tie up loose ends? That's called the denouement, or the showing of how the plot eventually turns out. Denouement is a French word that literally means the action of untying, from a verb meaning to untie. The English word is pronounced like the French: day-noo-MON. The last syllable has a nasalized vowel instead of the n sound. You can use it outside the context of plays or novels, too: you might describe the denouement of an argument between two friends.

Example Sentences

The novel’s satisfying denouement is assured when a disgraced former colleague of Ben’s, gloriously named Richard Take, accepts the proverbial dagger from Martin.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 13, 2026

Next week the league phase comes to a dramatic denouement with all 18 matches kicking off at the same time.

From Barron's • Jan. 20, 2026

Surely, you think, when we get to the denouement, Anderson will put a few words on the screen letting us know if everyone is OK.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 24, 2025

The magic of the Cup rarely stretches to the denouement.

From BBC • May 24, 2025

The scene is a denouement, ugly and raw.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove

Related Words

• climax
• culmination
• finale