conclusion

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noun con·clu·sion \ kən-ˈklü-zhən \

Definition of conclusion

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

The woman’s death was reported Saturday as suspicious and clarified as a homicide Sunday, but no information was released until Monday about why that conclusion was reached.

— kristin rodine, idahostatesman, "New details emerge in killing of 71-year-old Mountain Home woman," 28 Aug. 2017
One conclusion: masses of cold air that regularly move over the gulf in the winter can stir up waves and pressure differences that can help push the sediment seawards at rates of up to a meter per year.

— zahra ahmad, Science | AAAS, "The Germans torpedoed a ship during World War II. The wreck is now revealing secrets about submarine mudslides," 21 Aug. 2017
Before you jump to any conclusions, no, not one of them was any less formal or over-the-top than the last.

— lauren smith, House Beautiful, "This Bride Wore 5 Amazing Dresses to Her Wedding," 15 Aug. 2017
At 3 p.m. at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club: Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen took the lead in the first round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club at the conclusion of the morning groups.

— rick bonnell, charlotteobserver, "Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen leads PGA Championship; Raleigh’s Grayson Murray 1 shot back," 10 Aug. 2017
Here's the video: Tuohy's tests were followed up by The Truth About Guns, which came to the same conclusion.

— kyle mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "New Handgun Chosen by U.S. Army Goes Off If Dropped," 9 Aug. 2017
Ohio Department of Agriculture spokesman Mark Bruce said the state could not confirm or deny KMG's conclusion that corrosion was to blame for the ride's demise.

— randy tucker, Cincinnati.com, "Ohio fair ride accident: Eyes-only inspection didn’t see corrosion," 7 Aug. 2017
Push and shove: Friday's late-model feature came to a grinding conclusion when Eddie Hoffman swapped sheet metal while passing Billy Knippenberg with four laps remaining.

— tony baranek, Daily Southtown, "Chad Bayuk back on top of the street stock pack at Grundy County," 5 Aug. 2017
The most recent research, published in Developmental Psychology, came to similar conclusion but specifically looked at racially diverse, low-income families enrolled in the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project.

— caroline picard, Good Housekeeping, "Science Shows Spanking Can Negatively Affect Children's Behavior," 1 Aug. 2017

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

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First Known Use: 14th century

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conclusion Synonyms

Synonyms

consequence, deduction, determination, eduction, induction, inference, sequitur

Antonyms

antecedent, causation, cause, occasion, reason

Related Words

decision, deliverance, diagnosis, judgment (or judgement), resolution, ruling, verdict; conjecture, guess, surmise; assumption, presumption, supposition

Near Antonyms

deadlock, draw, halt, stalemate, standoff, tie

Other Logic Terms

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

CONCLUSION Defined for English Language Learners

conclusion

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noun

Definition of conclusion for English Language Learners

: 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

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noun con·clu·sion \ kən-ˈklü-zhən \

Definition of conclusion for Students

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

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noun con·clu·sion \ kən-ˈklü-zhən \

legal Definition of conclusion

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