the last/final word

noun

1
: the final thing said in an argument or a discussion
Your mother's decision is the final word on the matter.
Why do you always have to have the last word?
2
: the power to make a final decision
The judge will have the last word on the divorce agreement.
3
informal : the most modern or best one of its kind
This is the last word in wireless phones.
The van's design is the last word in safety.

Examples of the last/final word in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Treasury secretary did not respond directly to a question about why investors would trust that this was the final word from Mr. Trump after so many changes. Tyler Pager, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025 That means treating your first product as a starting point, not the final word. Rhett Power, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025 Matthew Luzzetti, an economist at Deutsche Bank, said that even if Wednesday’s announcement were the final word on tariffs, the uncertainty around the president’s actions so far could drag down growth by about 1% for several quarters. Paul Wiseman, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2025 The district judges making rulings today will not have the last word on anything. Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 27 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for the last/final word

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“The last/final word.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20last%2Ffinal%20word. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!