the last/final word

noun

1
: 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?
2
: the power to make a final decision
The judge will have the last word on the divorce agreement.
3
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.
Pay attention to jealousy around ideas, attention, gossip or who gets the last word. Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 17 June 2026 Because family court dockets are heavily backlogged, critics say a guardian’s recommendation often becomes the final word, despite the grueling and complex nature of the disputes they are tasked with untangling. Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 4 June 2026 In other words, a dentist’s prognosis is not always the final word. The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2026 Those colleagues have likely not heard the last word on the potential benefits of deregulation. Matt Peterson,steve Liesman, CNBC, 15 May 2026 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 4 Aug. 2026.

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