bottom-line

1 of 2

adjective

bot·​tom-line ˈbä-təm-ˌlīn How to pronounce bottom-line (audio)
1
: concerned only with cost or profits
2
bottom-liner 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

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
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.
Noun
Trump has also favored tax cuts, which could also help the bottom lines of banks such as US Bancorp. Trefis Team, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024 The bottom line: Don't count on the government or business to settle this debate. Isaac Avilucea, Axios, 11 Dec. 2024 Krispy Kreme said the hack will probably hurt its bottom line because of a loss of revenue from the disruption to online ordering, paying for cybersecurity experts and the cost to restore its systems. Jordan Valinsky, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024 Critics took to social media to share their stories of UnitedHealthcare allegedly denying their health care coverage claims, slamming the company for placing greater emphasis on their bottom line over providing quality coverage to its insurees. Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bottom-line 

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1968, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1830, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of bottom-line was in 1830

Dictionary Entries Near bottom-line

bottomless pit

bottom-line

bottom line

Cite this Entry

“Bottom-line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bottom-line. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

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