last resort

Idioms  

1. A final expedient or recourse to achieve some end or settle a difficulty. For example, If you don't improve, we'll try this new medication as a last resort. This term originally referred to a court of law from which there was no appeal. [Late 1600s]

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Example Sentences

A last resort would be a conservatorship, which is an involuntary process and takes place when a person is unable to take care of their finances.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 23, 2026

Waiting lists have not been used in over a decade and are widely viewed as a last resort, per KFF.

From Salon • Mar. 19, 2026

Some young people only turn to artificial-intelligence chatbots as a last resort, citing concerns about relationships, creativity, the environment and more.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 14, 2026

He said users often claim removing contact with family members is now becoming a trend - but Ben believes becoming estranged is the "last resort" for many.

From BBC • Mar. 9, 2026

There was already a substantial underground facility here, developed over centuries to be either a clandestine refuge for government leaders in times of war or a last resort for humanity if life above became unlivable.

From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins