bottom-line

1 of 2

adjective

bot·​tom-line ˈbä-təm-ˌlīn 

1

: concerned only with cost or profits

2

: pragmatic, realistic

bottom-liner

ˈbä-təm-ˌlī-nər 

noun chiefly US, often disparaging

bottom line

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: the essential or salient point : crux

b

: the primary or most important consideration

2

a

: the line at the bottom of a financial report that shows the net profit or loss

b

: financial considerations (such as cost or profit or loss)

c

: the final result

Synonyms

Noun

• bull's-eye
• centerpiece
• core
• crux
• essence
• gist
• heart
• kernel
• keynote
• meat
• meat and potatoes
• net
• nub
• nubbin
• nucleus
• pith
• pivot
• point
• root
• sum

Examples of bottom-line in a Sentence

Noun

If our flight is late, we will miss our connection. That's the bottom line.

A student with special needs can stress a school's budget, but the bottom line is that the state must provide for the child's education.

How will these changes affect our bottom line?

He's always got his eye on the bottom line.

He says his bottom line is $120,000.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The bottom line: Even if Medicaid policy changes don't make it into this tax package due to political unfavorability, Guthrie isn't ready to give up. —Victoria Knight, Axios, 15 Feb. 2025

The bottom line, Nelson says, is that no one knows more about safety procedures than the flight crew — so everyone needs to remain calm and quiet and wait for instructions. —Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 14 Feb. 2025

Reddit beat on the top and bottom lines for the period. —Sean Conlon, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2025

The bottom line is that the FDA’s regulatory reach remains limited. —Boutayna Chokrane, WIRED, 13 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1968, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1830, in the meaning defined at sense 1a