last word

noun

Synonyms of last wordnext
1
: the final remark in a verbal exchange
2
a
: the power of final decision
b
: a definitive statement or treatment
this study will surely be the last word on the subject for many years
3
: the most advanced, up-to-date, or fashionable exemplar of its kind
the last word in sports cars

Examples of last word in a Sentence

a swimsuit that is the last word in sportswear this season
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.
Alan tells the players about the murder in plain sight and asks if any of the table-sitting players have any last words about the potential victims. — Alice Burton, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026 Pike said her last words, an offering of love to those who loved her and those who hated her, and prepared. — Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2026 Job one, for anybody writing a book—for anybody writing a story of any kind, of any length—is to get the reader to that last word. — Longreads, 24 Sep. 2026 Kelly Clarkson said her last words on The Kelly Clarkson Show after seven seasons, amid a full hour of Kellyoke, her kids, and gratitude. — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for last word

Word History

First Known Use

1509, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of last word was in 1509

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Last word.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/last%20word. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

last word

noun
1
: the final remark in a discussion
2
: the power of final decision
3
: the most modern or fashionable one of its kind
the last word in sportswear
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