full stop

noun

chiefly British

: a point . used to show the end of a sentence or an abbreviation : period sense 5a

… the full stop after the roman numeral …

—Eric Korn

He found that a full stop expressed his feelings too violently, and wrote the letter again, for the fifth time …

—Anthony Trollope

… ordered the initials 'F. C. W. K.,' with the customary untrained grape-vine-looking flourishes, and a large full stop, to be engraved forthwith.

—Charles Dickens

—used interjectionally to emphasize the finality of the preceding statement

… when it comes to parenting she's the boss, full stop.

—Pamela Druckerman

Examples of full stop in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And sometimes that gaze is just discomfiting, full stop. —Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2026

In any Chinese household, each person typically gets their own rice bowl, full stop, and these portions, which weren’t even filled fully, could have easily been doubled. —Charlotte Observer, 7 May 2026

The surge in jail deaths is unacceptable — full stop. —Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 4 May 2026

Traffic is at a full stop after FM 1187. —Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1643, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for full stop

• atop
• backdrop
• backstop
• bebop
• blacktop
• bookshop
• clatsop
• desktop
• eavesdrop
• estop
• hardtop
• hilltop