bottom-line

1 of 2

adjective

bot·​tom-line ˈbä-təm-ˌlīn 

1

: concerned only with cost or profits

2

: pragmatic, realistic

bottom-liner

ˈbä-təm-ˌlī-nər 

noun chiefly US, often disparaging

bottom line

2 of 2

noun

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

Synonyms of bottom-line

Noun

• essence
• root
• heart
• core
• kernel
• point
• sum

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

Adjective

Top- and bottom-line results in the third quarter also beat the Street. —Davis Giangiulio,lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 1 May 2026

Both top- and bottom-line metrics beat Wall Street analysts’ consensus expectation. —Dade Hayes, Deadline, 30 Apr. 2026

Noun

Reddit reported first-quarter earnings last Thursday that beat on the top and bottom lines, sending its stock jumping 9% in after-hours trading. —Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 4 May 2026

The bottom line With credit card rates sitting above 21% and average personal loan rates near 12%, the interest rate math currently favors consolidation for borrowers who qualify for competitive offers. —Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 4 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1968, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1830, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for bottom-line

• acridine
• alkaline
• andesine
• anodyne
• anticline
• arginine
• asinine
• atropine
• benzidine
• borderline
• byzantine
• calamine