Schlussendlich

Schlussendlich is a German adverb meaning “in the end” or “ultimately.” It is used to indicate the final outcome of a discussion, process, or sequence of events and to introduce a concluding assessment or decision.

Etymology and related terms: The term is formed from Schluss (end, conclusion) and endlich (finally). It is closely related to other concluding adverbs such as letztendlich and schließlich. While all three express finality, they can carry slightly different nuances: letztendlich often emphasizes the logical end after weighing alternatives, schließlich signals a natural or expected conclusion, and schlussendlich highlights the decisive result.

Usage: The word appears in formal and informal prose, speeches, journalism, and academic writing. Some editors treat it as somewhat formal or emphatic, preferring letztendlich or schließlich in very formal contexts. It can be placed toward the end of a sentence or clause: “Nach umfangreicher Prüfung schlussendlich wurde Option B gewählt.” It can also be used to summarize a line of argument: “Schlussendlich lässt sich sagen, dass weitere Forschung nötig ist.”

See also: letztendlich; schließlich; am Ende.