bottom-line

1 of 2

adjective

bot·​tom-line ˈbä-təm-ˌlīn How to pronounce bottom-line (audio)
Synonyms of bottom-linenext
1
: concerned only with cost or profits
2
bottom-liner 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

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
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
Amazon is expected to post robust bottom-line results for the first quarter of 2026, largely fueled by growth in Amazon Web Services (AWS). Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026 Damon Lindelof has done a lot of business with Warner Bros over the years, and on Monday the Watchmen creator put the business of the pending Paramount-Warner Bros Discover merger in stark bottom-line perspective. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 13 Apr. 2026
Noun
Even when factoring in some real estate tax relief programs, its reduction to the bottom line is fatal to the projects pro forma. Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026 The bottom line Regardless of what happens with mortgage rates this May, there are ways to improve your chances of getting a better deal. Tim Maxwell, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bottom-line

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1968, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1830, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of bottom-line was in 1830

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Bottom-line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bottom-line. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.

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