last words

Noun

last word (plural last words)

1. (idiomatic, often preceded by the and followed by in) The finest, highest, or ultimate representative of some class of objects.
   • Little Joe's mother's cake was the last word in cakes; [...]1917, L[ucy] M[aud] Montgomery, “Captain Jim Crosses the Bar”, in Anne’s House of Dreams, Toronto, Ont.: McClelland & Stewart, published 1920, →OCLC, page 332

   Synonyms:

   exemplar, paragon, ne plus ultra

2. (idiomatic) A concluding remark; final advice, instructions, or observation.
   • ["]I have got my leave, and that is all I want." / "You had better receive the last word from my mother," said the marquis. / "Very good; I will go and get it," said Newman; and he prepared to return to the drawing-room.1876 October, Henry James, Jr., chapter XII, in The American, Boston, Mass.: James R[ipley] Osgood and Company, […], published 5 May 1877, →OCLC, page 205
3. (in plural, often, sarcastic) The final statement uttered by a person before death.
   • Benjamin Franklin [...] pondered over his last words for as much as two weeks, and then when the time came, he said, "None but the brave deserve the fair," and died happy.1889 September 11, Mark Twain, “Last words of great men”, in Buffalo Express, Buffalo, N.Y.
4. (idiomatic) A final decision or remark, or the right to make one.
   • have the last word