penultimate

[ pi-nuhl-tuh-mit ]
/ pɪˈnʌl tə mɪt /

adjective

next to the last: the penultimate scene of the play.
of or relating to a penult or the next to the last syllable in a word: In the word appropriate, -pri- is the penultimate syllable.

noun

a penult.

Origin of penultimate

First recorded in 1670–80; see origin at penult, ultimate

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH penultimate

last penultimate ultimate

Words nearby penultimate

pentyl group, pentylenetetrazol, penuche, penuchle, penult, penultimate, penumbra, penurious, penury, penutian, penza

Example sentences from the Web for penultimate

British Dictionary definitions for penultimate

penultimate
/ (pɪˈnʌltɪmɪt) /

adjective

next to the last

noun

anything that is next to the last, esp a penult

Word Origin for penultimate

C17: from Latin paene almost + ultimate, on the model of Latin paenultimus