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bottom line

final profit or loss; the essential point

In Business & Marketing

In more detail

1. (expression) the most important fact or conclusion about something

2. (expression) the final figure in a financial statement showing profit or loss

Examples

• 1. The bottom line is that we need to finish this project by Friday.
• 2. The company's bottom line improved significantly this year.

How to use bottom line

Bottom line is used in both business and general contexts to emphasize what ultimately matters most or what the final result is. In financial contexts, it refers specifically to net profit or loss; in broader contexts, it signals the conclusion or essential point of an argument or situation. It is commonly used to cut through complexity and focus on what is most important.

Common phrases

• the bottom line is
• bottom line:
• get to the bottom line
• the bottom line figure
• affect the bottom line
• improve the bottom line

Synonyms

the essential point · the crux · the main point · the key issue · the crucial fact

A common mistake

Learners sometimes write 'the bottom line is that' followed by a full sentence when they should use the phrase as an introductory clause or let it stand as a strong conclusion.

Nearby in Business & Marketing

scalable, grassroots marketing, barriers to entry, brainstorming, break-even, burn rate

Keep going

How to remember the words you read · Spaced repetition, explained