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
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.
New steering column paddles adjust regenerative braking to recapture energy, but there’s no one-pedal setting to bring the bZ to a full stop. Mark Phelan, USA Today, 2 June 2025 Two words to mark the end of Sunderland’s arduous journey back to the Premier League or the full stop to Bellingham’s time on Wearside? Only the teenager can be sure of his intent, but this summer has long felt like a crossroads for him. Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 29 May 2025 Fabrizio Maffei/Shutterstock What this means for visitors to Rome Rome will not come to a full stop, but traffic will be very challenging to navigate, especially in and around Vatican City and in the Esquilino neighborhood where Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore is located. Erica Firpo, AFAR Media, 22 Apr. 2025 Why football, why Durham, why use their money to help others, full stop? George Caulkin, New York Times, 1 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for full stop

Word History

First Known Use

1643, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of full stop was in 1643

Cite this Entry

“Full stop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/full%20stop. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

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