last word
Americannoun
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the closing remark or comment, as in an argument.
By the rules of debate she would have the last word.
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a final or definitive work, statement, etc..
This report is the last word on the treatment of arthritis.
-
the latest, most modern thing.
Casual hairdos are the last word this season.
Etymology
Origin of last word
First recorded in 1880–85
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"We will not allow an act of violence to have the last word, especially during a year when we are reflecting on the 250th anniversary of America and everything we stand for."
From Barron's • Jun. 2, 2026
And while that relentless sanguinity might be unrealistic, it’s perfect for a film that ostensibly exists as the definitive last word in a legacy.
From Salon • Jun. 2, 2026
While helpful, those numbers are not the last word, the spokesperson noted.
From MarketWatch • May 1, 2026
One of the format’s surprising strengths is that Annie always gets the last word.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026
A last word bubbled in his throat, but I couldn’t tell what it was.
From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
