1
a
: the essential or salient point : crux
b
: the primary or most important consideration
2
a
: the line at the bottom of a financial report that shows the net profit or loss
b
: financial considerations (such as cost or profit or loss)
c
: the final result
Examples of bottom-line in a Sentence
Noun
If our flight is late, we will miss our connection. That's the bottom line.
A student with special needs can stress a school's budget, but the bottom line is that the state must provide for the child's education.
How will these changes affect our bottom line?
He's always got his eye on the bottom line.
He says his bottom line is $120,000.
Recent Examples on the Web
Sareen Habeshian, Axios, 21 Mar. 2025
The Downside of Brutal Honesty The bottom line, says Vernon, is that brutal honesty helps a friendship when your innermost motivation is concern for the person to whom the honesty is directed.
—Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 21 Mar. 2025
His bottom line depends on staying in China's good graces.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025
Keeping the menu fresh has helped the 53-year-old chain avoid the fate of its rivals and its bolstered its bottom line.
—Jordan Valinsky, CNN, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bottom-line
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Noun
The bottom line: There is a lot of uncertainty about what's going to happen.
—Sareen Habeshian, Axios, 21 Mar. 2025
The Downside of Brutal Honesty The bottom line, says Vernon, is that brutal honesty helps a friendship when your innermost motivation is concern for the person to whom the honesty is directed.
—Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 21 Mar. 2025
His bottom line depends on staying in China's good graces.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025
Keeping the menu fresh has helped the 53-year-old chain avoid the fate of its rivals and its bolstered its bottom line.
—Jordan Valinsky, CNN, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bottom-line
Cite this Entry
“Bottom-line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bottom-line. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.
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