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
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
Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 6 Jan. 2026
The retailer delivered a top- and bottom-line beat, driven by membership fee growth, higher net sales, and healthy profits.
—Paulina Likos, CNBC, 12 Dec. 2025
Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
The bottom line Paying $85 to $95 for 1 ounce of silver represents the current realistic range for most standard bullion products, with the spot price of about $75 serving as your baseline reference point.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bottom-line
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.
Adjective
The Italian shoe brand said Morrell will be responsible for defining and driving P448’s next chapter of growth with the aim of increasing bottom-line profitability and establishing an operating model fit for scale.
—Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 6 Jan. 2026
The retailer delivered a top- and bottom-line beat, driven by membership fee growth, higher net sales, and healthy profits.
—Paulina Likos, CNBC, 12 Dec. 2025
Noun
Child care costs are draining parents’ wallets and hitting their employers’ bottom lines, according to a new study published by The Women’s Fund Miami-Dade.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
The bottom line Paying $85 to $95 for 1 ounce of silver represents the current realistic range for most standard bullion products, with the spot price of about $75 serving as your baseline reference point.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bottom-line
Cite this Entry
“Bottom-line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bottom-line. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share