Word
penultimate
Phoneticspenul·ti·mate
US/pɛˈnəɫtəmət/
UK/pɛnˈʌltɪmət/
Definition
adj. the one that comes right before the very last one in a series. If you are reading a book with ten chapters, chapter nine is the penultimate one.
adj. immediately preceding the final item in a series or sequence. Often used in literary or academic contexts to describe chapters, syllables, or stages in a process.
Examples
“The penultimate chapter of the book is the most exciting.”
“We are currently in the penultimate week of the semester, so everyone is busy preparing for final exams.”
“The protagonist's sudden realization in the penultimate scene provides the necessary emotional weight for the story's tragic conclusion, ensuring the finale feels earned rather than forced.”
Examples
simple
“The penultimate chapter of the book is the most exciting.”
contextual
“We are currently in the penultimate week of the semester, so everyone is busy preparing for final exams.”
complex
“The protagonist's sudden realization in the penultimate scene provides the necessary emotional weight for the story's tragic conclusion, ensuring the finale feels earned rather than forced.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun. While it can function as a noun in linguistics to refer to a syllable, the adjective sense is significantly more common in general English.
Pitfall
the penultimate last one
the penultimate one
Penultimate already means 'next to last', so adding 'last' is redundant.
Real-World Examples
“In the penultimate scene Fred orders a Cuba libre, so perhaps there’s hope?” “Athletics: European Championships, 10am, BBC One The penultimate day sees Georgia Hunter Bell and Laura Muir in the 1500m heats from the Alexander Stadium, Birmingham.” Etymology
Etymology tree Latin paene Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- Proto-Italic *-tm̥mos Proto-Italic *oltm̥mos Latin ultimus Latin paenultimus Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂tos Proto-Italic *-ātos Latin -ātuslbor. English -ate English penultimate From Latin paenultimus (“penultimate”) + -ate (adjective-forming suffix), from paene (“almost”) + ultimus (“last”). Equivalent to pene- + ultimate. Compare French pénultième.
From a substantivation of the above adjective. Equivalent to Latin paenultimus + -ate (noun-forming suffix).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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