Overview

In this episode of Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day (October 13, 2025), host Peter Sokolowski introduces and explores the adjective “penultimate.” The episode focuses on defining the word, explaining its correct usage, discussing its etymology, and clarifying common misconceptions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Definition and Usage

• Definition:
  • “Penultimate is an adjective. It means occurring immediately before the last one, or in other words, next to last.” (A, 00:11)
• Usage Note:
  • The host emphasizes it’s a “formal adjective, always used before the noun it modifies.”
• Example Sentence:
  • “Here’s the word used in a sentence from the Plano Star Courier:
    The high school soccer playoffs are down to their penultimate round, with the state semifinals looming later this week after a select few regional champions were crowned on Tuesday.” (A, 00:23)

Related Words

• Penult and Penultima:
  • “Penultimate isn’t the last word in words for things that are next to last. It has a pair of closely related noun synonyms, penult and penultima...” (A, 00:51)
  • “Penult and penultima are usually a bit more specific. They’re used most often to identify the next to last syllable of a word.” (A, 01:04)

Etymology

• Origin:
  • “All three come from the word penultima, the feminine of paenultimus, a Latin root from paene, meaning almost, and ultimus, meaning last.” (A, 01:16)

Common Misuse

• Clarification:
  • “You may occasionally hear the word penultimate used as an intensified version of the word ultimate, as in a race, they've the penultimate challenge. This use isn’t typically found in edited prose, however, or in our dictionaries, as discussed in a video you can see at merriam-webster.com.” (A, 01:29)
  • Takeaway: “Penultimate” should not be used to mean “the very last” or as a synonym of “ultimate.”

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Correct Meaning:
  • “Penultimate is an adjective. It means occurring immediately before the last one, or in other words, next to last.” (A, 00:11)
• On Usage in Linguistics:
  • “Penult and penultima are usually a bit more specific. They’re used most often to identify the next to last syllable of a word.” (A, 01:04)
• On Common Misuse:
  • “You may occasionally hear the word penultimate used as an intensified version of the word ultimate... this use isn’t typically found in edited prose, however, or in our dictionaries.” (A, 01:29)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:11 – Definition and correct usage of “penultimate”
• 00:23 – Example sentence from the Plano Star Courier
• 00:51 – Introduction of related words ("penult" and "penultima")
• 01:16 – Etymology and Latin roots
• 01:29 – Clarification on common misuse

Conclusion

This concise episode provides listeners with a clear understanding of "penultimate", its proper grammatical use, its linguistic relatives, and a caution against misusing it for "ultimate." Peter Sokolowski’s explanations are precise and reinforce the importance of accuracy in language.

For further reference and advanced wordplay, listeners are invited to visit Merriam-Webster.com.