full stop

American  

noun

1. period.

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full stop British  

noun

1. Also called (esp US and Canadian): period.  the punctuation mark (.) used at the end of a sentence that is not a question or exclamation, after abbreviations, etc

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Etymology

Origin of full stop

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

Last year’s full stop on hiring is loosening up a bit.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 8, 2026

It will be a full stop for a generation of Australian cricketers who have never won an away Ashes and almost certainly for Stokes, who will turn 36 as the series begins.

From BBC • Jan. 3, 2026

Despite Schjerfbeck’s time in Paris, she seems to have ignored what the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists were doing, but at intervals, early paintings make you come to a full stop.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 3, 2026

Paltrow: I try to never read anything about myself, full stop, ever.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 16, 2025

Otto and Sheed came to a full stop, then walked their bikes closer for a better view.

From "The Last Last-Day-of-Summer" by Lamar Giles