penultimate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the next to last syllable in a word
    penult; penultima.
  2. adjective satellite next to the last
    next-to-last.
    • the author inadvertently reveals the murderer in the penultimate chapter
    • the figures in the next-to-last column

WordNet

Pe*nul"ti*mate adjective
Definitions
  1. Last but one; as, the penultimate syllable, the last syllable but one of a word.
Pe*nul"ti*mate noun
Definitions
  1. The penult.

Webster 1913