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

Example Sentences

“He later realized that was impossible, and this move is the denouement of that process.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 25, 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

A stray orange cat; a séance in a hostel; a “nearsighted galoot” who decodes cryptic messages from Radio Pyongyang; flashlights that aren’t just flashlights — these bread crumbs guide us to the novel’s denouement.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2025

Two years on at Augusta he led by four shots going into the final round, only to shoot 80 in a scarring denouement.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2025

Finally the score was tied nine to nine, and the family on the sidelines readied themselves for a denouement.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy

Related Words

• climax
• culmination
• finale