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
The bottom line is that the winds have shifted against these two, and there’s no sign of that changing anytime soon. Brett Owens, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024 Luck’s role will stretch from managing the coaching staff and roster to improving the bottom line through fundraising, sponsorships and alumni relations. Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 30 Nov. 2024 The bottom line is that meaningful e-waste recycling in the United States is probably going to require government support. Vince Beiser, WIRED, 30 Nov. 2024 The lawsuit joins that of several other news outlets similarly alleging copyright infringement, including the New York Times, which argued OpenAI threatens the newspaper’s bottom line by stealing billions of dollars worth of work by its journalists. Miranda Nazzaro, The Hill, 29 Nov. 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 15 Dec. 2024.

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