first and last
idiom
: at the most basic level : in all respects
This is first and last a matter of national security.
Examples of first and last in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Mental health caregivers are the first and last line of defense.
—
Kat McGowan, NPR, 31 Dec. 2025
Please include your real name — at least first and last — and hometown.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 12 Dec. 2025
My favorite, called Flash Fill, automatically creates a column of full names in a worksheet that has separate columns for first and last names.
—PC Magazine, 22 Nov. 2025
Voters will have to enter their first and last names and date of birth to find their polling location if they are registered to vote in the state.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for first and last
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Kat McGowan, NPR, 31 Dec. 2025
Please include your real name — at least first and last — and hometown.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 12 Dec. 2025
My favorite, called Flash Fill, automatically creates a column of full names in a worksheet that has separate columns for first and last names.
—PC Magazine, 22 Nov. 2025
Voters will have to enter their first and last names and date of birth to find their polling location if they are registered to vote in the state.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for first and last
Cite this Entry
“First and last.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/first%20and%20last. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
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