conclusion

UK: /kənˈkluːʒ^ən/ US: /kənˈkluʒən/ ,(kən klo̅o̅′zhən)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

con•clu•sion /kənˈkluʒən/   n. [countable]

1. the end or close;
   final part:
   The conclusion of his essay contained a summary of the main points.
2. a belief or opinion resulting from deduction or inference:
   The conclusion follows simply enough from the arguments.
3. a final decision or judgment:
   It is the conclusion of this committee that the employee did in fact steal money.
4. a settlement or arrangement:
   worked hard for the conclusion of a new contract.

Idioms

5. Idioms in conclusion, [uncountable] lastly;
   to conclude:
   The essay's last paragraph began "In conclusion...''
6. jump to conclusions, to arrive at or form a judgment too quickly.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

con•clu•sion  (kən klo̅o̅′zhən), n. 

1. the end or close;
   final part.
2. the last main division of a discourse, usually containing a summing up of the points and a statement of opinion or decisions reached.
3. a result, issue, or outcome;
   settlement or arrangement:
   The restitution payment was one of the conclusions of the negotiations.
4. Law final decision:
   The judge has reached his conclusion.
5. a reasoned deduction or inference.
6. Philosophy [Logic.] a proposition concluded or inferred from the premises of an argument.
7. Law
   • the effect of an act by which the person performing the act is bound not to do anything inconsistent therewith;
     an estoppel.
   • the end of a pleading or conveyance.
8. Grammar apodosis.
9. Idioms in conclusion, finally:
   In conclusion, I would like to thank you for your attention.
10. Idioms try conclusions with, to engage oneself in a struggle for victory or mastery over, as a person or an impediment.

• Latin conclūsiōn- (stem of conclūsiō), equivalent. to conclūs(us) closed, past participle of conclūdere (conclūd- to conclude + -tus past participle suffix) + -iōn- -ion
• Middle English 1300–50

con•clu′sion•al, adj. 
con•clu′sion•al•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. ending, termination, completion, finale. See end ¹.
• 2. summation.

Antonyms

• 1. beginning.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

conclusion / kənˈkluːʒən/ noun

1. end or termination
2. the last main division of a speech, lecture, essay, etc
3. the outcome or result of an act, process, event, etc (esp in the phrase a foregone conclusion)
4. a final decision or judgment; resolution (esp in the phrase come to a conclusion)
5. a statement that purports to follow from another or others (the premises) by means of an argument
6. a statement that does validly follow from given premises
7. an admission or statement binding on the party making it; estoppel
8. the close of a pleading or of a conveyance
9. in conclusion ⇒ lastly; to sum up
10. jump to conclusions ⇒ to come to a conclusion prematurely, without sufficient thought or on incomplete evidence

Etymology: 14th Century: via Old French from Latin; see conclude, -ion