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

But the bottom line is, Vrabel was both their guy and the best candidate on the market. —Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 12 Jan. 2025

The bottom line: Pay attention to the type of evacuation warnings issued for your area and be ready to quickly leave if necessary. —Kate Murphy, Axios, 10 Jan. 2025

The bottom line is that the opportunities to build a business from home are endless as there are many profitable business ideas. —Melissa Houston, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025

The bottom line of a catastrophe such as this is not political or demographic or sociological. —Jim Newton, The Mercury News, 10 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1968, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1830, in the meaning defined at sense 1a