first and last
phrase
: at the most basic level : in all respects
This is first and last a matter of national security.
Examples of first and last in a Sentence
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Even the most casual Jeopardy viewers can tell you that the show doesn't usually require contestants to answer with a first and last name when the correct response is a person — a surname will generally do.
—
Louis Peitzman,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for first and last
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Louis Peitzman,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for first and last
Cite this Entry
“First and last.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/first%20and%20last. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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