bottom-line
UK[ˈbɒtəm laɪn]US[ˈbɑːtəm laɪn]
n
The final total of an account or balance sheet, showing net profit or loss.
n
The most important or decisive factor; the ultimate outcome or criterion.
Morpheme Breakdown
bottom
line
bottom
lowest part
line
written stroke
Etymology
The term 'bottom-line' is a compound formed from two native English words. 'Bottom', with Proto-Germanic origins, conveys the concept of the lowest or foundational point. 'Line', from Latin 'linea' (linen thread, string), evolved to mean a mark defining a limit or boundary. In accounting, the 'bottom line' literally referred to the final figure on a profit-and-loss statement, below which nothing else is calculated. This concrete financial meaning was then metaphorically extended into general business and everyday language to signify the ultimate result, the essential truth, or the most critical determining factor in any situation, emphasizing a focus on concrete outcomes.
Analysis
Structure: bottom (lowest part) + line (written stroke)
bottom: From Old English 'botm', meaning the lowest part or foundation. In this compound, it signifies the final or ultimate position.
line: From Old English 'līne', meaning a cord, rope, or a stroke or mark. In this compound, it refers to a written or printed row, specifically the one at the end of a financial statement.
Examples
The company's bottom-line profit increased by 15% this quarter.
When making a decision, the environmental impact is our bottom-line.
After all the negotiations, the bottom-line is that we need more funding to proceed.