conclusion

noun con·clu·sion \ kən-ˈklü-zhən \

Updated on: 22 Apr 2018

1 a : a reasoned judgment : inference

The obvious conclusion is that she was negligent.

b : the necessary consequence of two or more propositions taken as premises; especially : the inferred proposition of a syllogism

2 : the last part of something

The team was exhausted at the conclusion of the game.

: such as

a : result, outcome

The peace talks came to a successful conclusion.

b conclusions plural : trial of strength or skill —used in the phrase try conclusions

c : a final summation

the counsel's conclusion to the jury

d : the final decision in a law case

e : the final part of a pleading in law

3 : an act or instance of concluding

hoped for a quick conclusion to the war

See conclusion defined for English-language learners

See conclusion defined for kids

Examples of conclusion in a Sentence

The evidence does not support the report's conclusions.
The evidence points to the inescapable conclusion that she was negligent.
The logical conclusion is that she was negligent.
What led you to that conclusion?
They haven't yet arrived at a conclusion.
the conclusion of a business deal
The case was finally brought to conclusion last week.

Recent Examples of conclusion from the Web

Before the raids, Mr. Trump’s legal team had been seeking to negotiate a deal with Mr. Mueller that would use an interview with the president as leverage to spur a conclusion to the Russia investigation.

— peter nicholas, WSJ, "Ex-New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani to Join Donald Trump’s Personal Legal Team," 19 Apr. 2018
The new research reaffirms a growing conclusion among coral experts that some coral species are naturally better at weathering heat stress than others.

— chelsea harvey, Scientific American, "Recent Ocean Heat Waves Have ‘Forever’ Altered Great Barrier Reef," 19 Apr. 2018
But the standings can change with Friday’s conclusion.

— hal boedeker, OrlandoSentinel.com, "'Jeopardy!': UCF student starts finals," 19 Apr. 2018
The decision is a reversal for the court, which reached an opposite conclusion in a different case in 2015.

— Washington Post, "CDC chief drops positions at 4 groups," 18 Apr. 2018
The land management bureau over the last decade conducted extensive environmental analysis of the project's impact that required public involvement before reaching Wednesday's conclusion.

— keith ridler, idahostatesman, "High-voltage power lines will pass near Idaho bird sanctuary | Idaho Statesman," 18 Apr. 2018
The conclusion is drawn out even further by a scene that seems to have been written for Redgrave, playing the housekeeper at Walter’s beloved home upstate.

— sophie gilbert, The Atlantic, "The Inheritance and the Ambitions of Queer Art," 18 Apr. 2018
There has been extensive economic research on this topic in recent years, and these studies commonly reach two conclusions that undercut the idea of breaking up CMS.

— staff reports, charlotteobserver, "NC House candidates: Where they stand on key issues | Charlotte Observer," 17 Apr. 2018
But on Monday, Britain’s Court of Appeal ruled against the parents, upholding a lower court’s conclusion that flying the child to a hospital in Rome would be wrong and pointless.

— Fox News, "Parents of UK toddler on life support apply to appeal court's latest ruling," 17 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'conclusion.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of conclusion

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin conclusion-, conclusio, from concludere — see conclude

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

conclusion Synonyms

Phrases

matter of course;

Other Logic Terms

a posteriori, connotation, corollary, inference, mutually exclusive, paradox, postulate, syllogism

CONCLUSION Defined for English Language Learners

conclusion

noun

: a final decision or judgment : an opinion or decision that is formed after a period of thought or research
: the last part of something
: the act of concluding or finishing something or the state of being finished

CONCLUSION Defined for Kids

conclusion

noun con·clu·sion \ kən-ˈklü-zhən \

1 : final decision reached by reasoning

I came to the conclusion that the plan won't work.

2 : the last part of something

3 : a final settlement

We had hoped for a quick conclusion of the conflict.

Law Dictionary

conclusion

noun con·clu·sion \ kən-ˈklü-zhən \

1 : a judgment or opinion inferred from relevant facts

our conclusion upon the present evidence
—Missouri v. Illinois, 200 U.S. 496 (1905)

2 a : a final summarizing (as of a closing argument)

b : the last or closing part of something

3 : an opinion or judgment offered without supporting evidence; specifically : an allegation made in a pleading that is not based on facts set forth in the pleading