the last/final word

noun

: the final thing said in an argument or a discussion

Your mother's decision is the final word on the matter.

Why do you always have to have the last word?

: the power to make a final decision

The judge will have the last word on the divorce agreement.

informal : the most modern or best one of its kind

This is the last word in wireless phones.

The van's design is the last word in safety.

Examples of the last/final word in a Sentence

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.

Conclusion President Biden’s recent withdrawal of offshore areas from oil and gas leasing is far from the final word on the matter. —

James Broughel, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025 That legacy may have been overlooked because there were fewer openings to the coveted U.S. Supreme Court and 13 circuit courts of appeal – which have the final word on every case filed in the federal system. —

Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Dec. 2024 Because, Linford says, while sorrow is real, the final word is joy. —

Jason Derose, NPR, 18 Dec. 2024 The Coast Guard regarded her as the last word in small-boat rescue work. —

Orval C. Johnson, Outdoor Life, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for the last/final word

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“The last/final word.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20last%2Ffinal%20word. Accessed 14 Jan. 2025.

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