penultimate

USAGE SUMMARY

'penultimate' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is an adjective that means "next to last," and is often used in academic contexts to refer to the second-to-last part of something. For example, "The penultimate chapter of the book was particularly interesting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Radio Times reported that the penultimate episode of the series, due to air on 22 March, had been replaced by a documentary about the Caribbean.

The Guardian

Tony Martin is a hugely experienced time triallist – but there's only one time trial, and on the penultimate stage at that.

The Guardian - Sport

This summer she scored the second highest grade in exams which mark the halfway point of P6, the penultimate year of primary school.

The Guardian

The top 10 was dominated by the BBC, with the penultimate episode of Miranda Hart'sthe sitcom Miranda seen by 6.7 million people, a 27.6% share, and the Doctor Who Christmas special seen by 6.3 million.

The Guardian

The captain scoops the penultimate ball away behind square for a much-needed boundary.

The Guardian - Sport

It's a Category 3 climb, the penultimate of this relentless day before Jenkin Road.

The Guardian - Sport

Atlético had been a fingertip away from winning the league on the penultimate weekend, their players departing the field with a haunted look in their eyes.

The Guardian - Sport

That became impossible by the time I got to the penultimate chapter and found Saint-Exupéry and his companion Prevot downed in the desert, battling against thirst and time under the merciless sun of the Sahara.

The Guardian - Books

Channel 4's Supernanny managed a 2.5 million audience for the penultimate instalment from the naughty step, an 11.4% share.

The Guardian

On Friday, finance minister Yanis Varoufakis meets his counterparts in the Latvian capital Riga in what many analysts believe is the penultimate gathering to work out a deal before Athens's coffers run dry.

The Guardian

Collins's glancing header set Wales on their way and, although Coleman will have been less than impressed with the defending that saw Iceland drew level, his players fully deserved victory in the penultimate game before their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign starts.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "penultimate" when you want to add a touch of formality or precision to your writing, especially in academic or technical contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "penultimate" when you actually mean "ultimate". "Penultimate" refers to the second to last item, while "ultimate" means the final or last item in a series. Using the wrong term completely changes the meaning of your sentence.

Linguistic Context

The word "penultimate" primarily functions as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate their position as second to last in a sequence or series. As Ludwig AI confirms, the word is correctly and commonly used in this manner.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "penultimate" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed adjective that signifies 'second to last'. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used to specify the element immediately preceding the final one, often adding a touch of formality. Predominantly found in "news & media", "formal & business", and scientific contexts, it lends precision to descriptions. When aiming for simpler language, alternatives like “second to last” or “next to last” are suitable replacements. Remember to avoid confusing "penultimate" with "ultimate", which refers to the final item. By adhering to these guidelines, you can confidently and correctly integrate the word "penultimate" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

second to last

Replaces "penultimate" with a more common and less formal phrase.

next to last

Similar to "second to last", providing a simpler alternative.

last but one

Offers a slightly different phrasing to indicate the position before the final.

antepenultimate

Specifies the position two places before the end, adding more precision when needed.

preceding the last

A more descriptive phrase that clarifies the sequential order.

immediately before the end

Emphasizes the proximity to the final element or event.

one from the end

Informal phrasing that is most similar to “last but one”.

second from the end

Alternative way of saying “second to last”.

next-to-final

A less common variant but that retains a clear meaning.

the one before last

Simplest way to convey the meaning.

FAQs

How to use "penultimate" in a sentence?

"Penultimate" is used to describe the item or event that comes immediately before the last one. For example, "The "penultimate chapter" of the book was the most suspenseful."

What can I say instead of "penultimate"?

You can use alternatives like "second to last", "next to last", or "last but one" depending on the context.

Is "penultimate" a formal word?

Yes, "penultimate" is considered a more formal word. In less formal contexts, phrases like "second to last" or "next to last" are more common.

What's the difference between "penultimate" and "ultimate"?

"Penultimate" refers to the second to last item, while "ultimate" refers to the very last or final item. For example, the "penultimate stage" is the one before the "final stage".