penultimate

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/pɪˈnʌltɪmət/
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The position immediately before the final one, most often as a formal adjective and also as a noun for that next-to-last item or syllable.
Practice using penultimate in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • The stress falls on the penultimate syllable.
  • The penultimate position can affect the rhythm of the line.
  • In this word, the penultimate vowel is long.
  • His penultimate stop was a small station outside York.
  • The team scored during the penultimate minute of the match.

Similar words

next-to-last item
last but one
one before last
second-to-last
second-to-last
penult
next-to-last
penultima
last but one
second-to-last item

Meanings

Second from the end

adjective
everyday
formal
Coming immediately before the final person, thing, stage, or event in an ordered series.

Usage

Use penultimate only when exactly one item remains after it.

Examples

  • The penultimate chapter leaves one mystery unsolved.
  • She missed the penultimate train and caught the last one instead.
  • The team scored during the penultimate minute of the match.
  • His penultimate stop was a small station outside York.
  • The recipe adds the herbs in the penultimate step.

Common mistakes

The word is often mistaken for a stronger form of ultimate or for any item near the end.
IncorrectCorrect
The penultimate chapter is the final chapter. The penultimate chapter comes just before the final chapter.
This is the penultimate challenge, harder than ultimate. This is the ultimate challenge.
The third of ten steps is penultimate. The ninth of ten steps is penultimate.

Similar words

second-to-last
next-to-last
last but one
one before last
almost final
preceding the last

Next-to-last item

noun
everyday
formal
The person, thing, or syllable that occupies the position immediately before the final one.

Usage

Use penultimate as a noun mainly when the surrounding sentence already makes the series clear.

Examples

  • The penultimate was crossed out before the final answer was written.
  • In the list of syllables, the penultimate carries the stress.
  • The editor checked the penultimate before approving the last entry.
  • The penultimate of the sequence is easier to remember than the final term.
  • Only the penultimate and the last remained on the board.

Common mistakes

The noun is often forced where a clearer noun phrase would sound more natural.
IncorrectCorrect
She watched the penultimate of the TV show. She watched the penultimate episode of the TV show.
The penultimate is after the last. The penultimate is before the last.
The list has one item, so it has a penultimate. A list needs at least two items to have a penultimate.

Similar words

penult
penultima
second-to-last item
next-to-last item
last but one

Usage

Penultimate means second from the end, so it never names the final item itself.

Common mistakes

Ultimate is often used as if it were interchangeable with penultimate, but the two positions are different.

Etymology

Recorded in English in the late 17th century, from Latin paenultimus, from paene meaning almost and ultimus meaning last, shaped in English after ultimate.

FAQ

What does penultimate mean?

Penultimate means second from the end, with exactly one item after it.

Is penultimate the same as ultimate?

No. Ultimate means last or final, while penultimate means immediately before the last.

Can penultimate be a noun?

Yes. It can mean the next-to-last item, especially in formal writing or when referring to a syllable.

What is a penultimate syllable?

It is the syllable immediately before the last syllable of a word.

What comes before penultimate?

Antepenultimate names the position before the penultimate one, third from the end.

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