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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

swan song

They had come to witness more of Messi’s miracles, not his World Cup swan song.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026

Now contrast those ancient memories with the Wu-Tang Clan’s national conquest in 2025, when their alleged swan song tour, “Wu-Tang Forever: The Final Chamber,” became one of summer’s hottest legacy tickets.

From Salon ● May 31, 2026

Cue the violins, because after Jerome Powell’s swan song Fed rate meeting, it’s his final two weeks in the hot seat.

From Barron's ● May 4, 2026

Fans are wondering whether it will be a swan song for Michaels, who turns 80 later this year.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2024

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

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly

Related Words

• farewell