full stop

/ˌˈfʊl ˌstɑp/

/fʊl stɒp/

Other forms: full stops

A full stop is a punctuation mark that looks like a dot at the end of a sentence. If you end your text message with a full stop, your friend might think you're mad at them!

A full stop, more commonly called a period in the U.S., is the punctuation that signals "this sentence is over." Use a full stop at the end of a declarative sentence, saving exclamation points for enthusiastic or emphatic statements, and question marks for questions. Full stops are also used in some abbreviations and initialisms like U.S. and Washington, D.C. People sometimes end a spoken sentence with the words full stop for emphasis: "My cat's the best, full stop."

Definitions of full stop

1. noun

   a punctuation mark (.) placed at the end of a declarative sentence to indicate a full stop or after abbreviations
   synonyms: full point, period, point, stop

   types:

   suspension point

   (usually plural) one of a series of points indicating that something has been omitted or that the sentence is incomplete

   type of:

   punctuation, punctuation mark

   the marks used to clarify meaning by indicating separation of words into sentences and clauses and phrases