Refers to the end point or concluding part of an event, story, period, list, or process. Common in phrases such as 最後まで and 最後に.
At the end of the story, the main character returns to his hometown.
最後まで諦めないでください。
Please don't give up until the end.
noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
Used before の to describe the last or final item in an ordered set. It can sometimes correspond to English 'latest' or 'most recent' when the item is simply the last one so far, but 最新 is clearer when no sense of 'last/final' is intended.
最後の質問に答えてから、会議は終わった。
After answering the final question, the meeting ended.
彼の最後の発言が一番印象に残った。
His last remark left the strongest impression on me.
once ... happens, that is it; no sooner than; right after, with consequences
Fixed pattern after a verb in the たら form or after a た form plus が: 〜たら最後／〜たが最後. It means that once something happens, an unavoidable or often undesirable result follows.
そのボタンを押したが最後、データは全部消えてしまう。
Once you press that button, all the data will be deleted.
彼に秘密を話したら最後、みんなに広まってしまう。
Once you tell him a secret, it will spread to everyone.
one's final moments
Archaic noun use for a person's final moments, now normally written and understood as 最期. In modern Japanese, 最後 usually means 'the end' or 'last,' not specifically the moment of death.
See also: 最期
古い文章では、「最後」が人の死に際を指すことがある。
In old writing, 最後 can refer to a person's final moments.
Once you lend him money, you'll never see it again.
Let me say one final word of my impressions.
I think this is the last chance.
最後 means 'last' or 'end' in a general sense, while 最後尾 specifically points to the very back position in a physical line or procession.
最後 is the general word for 'last' or 'end' in any sequence or event, while 末尾 is limited to the tail end of a written document, list, or string of characters.
最後 is a broad, everyday word for 'the last (one)' in any sequence, while 納め is a more formal suffix attached to a noun or verb stem to mean the last time that activity is done in a given period.
最後 refers to the very last one or last moment in a sequence, while 末 more broadly marks the closing portion of a period or thing, as in 月末.
最後 points to the final moment or last part of a sequence, whereas エンド often labels an ending as a defined outcome (e.g. in a game).
最後 points to the final item or moment in a sequence, while おしまい marks the point at which the whole thing comes to a close.
初 marks the first or beginning instance of something, while 最後 marks the last or final one (e.g. 初日 vs 最終日).
final warning; ultimatum; last notice
ultimatum