swan song

American  

noun

1. the last act or manifestation of someone or something; farewell appearance.

   This building turned out to be the swan song of Victorian architecture.

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swan song British  

noun

1. the last act, appearance, publication, or utterance of a person before retirement or death

2. the song that a dying swan is said to sing

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swan song Idioms  

1. A final accomplishment or performance, one's last work. For example, I'm resigning tomorrow; this project was my swan song. This term alludes to the old belief that swans normally are mute but burst into beautiful song moments before they die. Although the idea is much older, the term was first recorded in English only in 1890.

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Etymology

Origin of swan song

First recorded in 1825–35; so called from the belief that the dying swan sings

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

swan song

It’s hard to disagree, even as we mourn as his final effort this swan song account of Canada, the land of his ancestors.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026

After weeks of scorching heat and drought the summer's swan song is set to be one of frequent downpours as well as gales for some.

From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026

Its HBO Max sibling “Hacks” scored 24 nominations for its fifth season swan song, setting a new record for the top comedy category.

From Salon ● Jul. 9, 2026

Buffett’s epic posthumous hat tip to Munger is a poignant act from an extraordinary man, one that will forever be remembered as the swan song of a legend.

From Barron's ● Dec. 12, 2025

The memo heralded the end of an era, the swan song of the Band of Sisters.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly

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Related Words

• farewell
• wind-up

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