penultimate
[pɪˈnʌltɪmət]
[pɪˈnʌltɪmət]
An adjective, penultimate refers to the second-to-last one in a series or sequence. Think of it like being almost at the end of a line.
When talking about things that come in groups, we often use the word "penultimate" to describe the thing right before the last one. For example, if you're reading a list of your favorite movies and there are five on it, the fourth one would be the penultimate movie. It's like being one step away from the very end!
How common is "penultimate"?
Word penultimate is considered rare in modern English.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
Definitions
noun
A penult, a next-to-last thing, particularly:
penult
adjective
(in United States usually formal) Next to last, second to last; immediately preceding the end of a sequence, list, etc.
butlastlast but onenext to lastonesecond
Real examples of "penultimate" in context
