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Penultimate: meaning, definitions and examples

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penultimate

 

[ pɛnˈʌltɪmət ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

position, order

The term 'penultimate' refers to something that is second to last in a sequence or order. It is often used to describe the position of an item within a ranked list, series, or arrangement. For example, in a race with competitors, the penultimate runner is the one who finishes before the last one. The word can also be used in various contexts such as literature, where a chapter or paragraph may be the penultimate before the conclusion.

Synonyms

next-to-last, second-to-last

Examples of usage

  • The penultimate chapter revealed the plot twist.
  • She finished in the penultimate position in the competition.
  • In the penultimate round, the stakes were higher.

Translations

Translations of the word "penultimate" in other languages:

🇵🇹 penúltimo

🇮🇳 पूर्व अंतिम

🇩🇪 vorletzte

🇮🇩 kedua terakhir

🇺🇦 передостанній

🇵🇱 przedostatni

🇯🇵 次最後の

🇫🇷 avant-dernier

🇪🇸 penúltimo

🇹🇷 bir önceki

🇰🇷 끝에서 두 번째

🇸🇦 قبل الأخير

🇨🇿 předposlední

🇸🇰 predposledný

🇨🇳 倒数第二

🇸🇮 predzadnji

🇮🇸 fyrir síðasta

🇰🇿 алдыңғы соңғы

🇬🇪 მეორე ბოლო

🇦🇿 sonuncudan əvvəlki

🇲🇽 penúltimo

Etymology

The word 'penultimate' comes from the Latin 'paenultimus', where 'paene' means 'almost' and 'ultimus' means 'last'. The construction of the word indicates the idea of being nearly the last, but not quite there. It was adopted into English in the early 19th century, making it a relatively recent addition to the language. The term is often used in academic and formal contexts to denote a particular position in a sequence, lending itself well to discussions in areas like literature, education, and competitive events. Despite its specificity, 'penultimate' has found its way into everyday language, especially when describing sequential events or lists.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #19,239, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.