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

• essence
• root
• core
• heart
• kernel
• sum and substance
• point
• the long and short
• 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

Adjective

But in a world increasingly driven by bottom-line metrics, true innovation often struggles to find early backers. —Lynette Bell, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025

Trump himself has learned some of that same bottom-line pragmatism where the party is concerned. —Bill Barrow, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2025

Noun

However, Salesforce posted a second-quarter beat on both the top and bottom lines. —Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2025

Providing flexibility and a parent-friendly culture is good for not only your employees but also for your bottom line. —Jennifer Jay Palumbo, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1968, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1830, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for bottom-line

• acridine
• alkaline
• andesine
• anodyne
• anticline
• arginine
• asinine
• atropine
• benzidine
• borderline
• byzantine
• calamine