full stop

noun

chiefly British

: a point . used to show the end of a sentence or an abbreviation : period sense 5a

… the full stop after the roman numeral …

—Eric Korn

He found that a full stop expressed his feelings too violently, and wrote the letter again, for the fifth time …

—Anthony Trollope

… ordered the initials 'F. C. W. K.,' with the customary untrained grape-vine-looking flourishes, and a large full stop, to be engraved forthwith.

—Charles Dickens

—used interjectionally to emphasize the finality of the preceding statement

… when it comes to parenting she's the boss, full stop.

—Pamela Druckerman

Examples of full stop in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Most Brooklynites—nay, readers, full stop—love the library. —Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 19 Mar. 2026

For many others, this is not filmmaking, full stop. —Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 19 Mar. 2026

One is that maybe quantum field theory breaks down, full stop. —Quanta Magazine, 11 Mar. 2026

The blue Ford quickly comes to a full stop and Martinez is pulled from the vehicle and handcuffed by multiple officers. —Arkansas Online, 8 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1643, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for full stop

• atop
• backdrop
• backstop
• bebop
• blacktop
• bookshop
• clatsop
• desktop
• eavesdrop
• estop
• hardtop
• hilltop