last quarter
B2Formal to Neutral
Definition
Meaning
The final three-month period of a financial year or calendar year.
1. The phase of the moon when it appears as a half-moon after a full moon, also called the third quarter. 2. The final segment of a specified period, game, or process.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
In business contexts, it strongly implies a financial reporting period. In astronomy, it is a precise lunar phase. The meaning is highly context-dependent.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. 'Q4' is a common synonym in both. In sports contexts (e.g., basketball), US usage may refer to 'fourth quarter' more often than 'last quarter'.
Connotations
In both, it carries connotations of review, deadlines, financial results, and end-of-cycle assessment.
Frequency
More frequent in business/finance registers in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[The/Our] last quarter [verb: showed/recorded/was]...Profits in the last quarter...The moon is in its last quarter.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To end on a high note in the last quarter.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Essential term for reporting financial performance: 'The company's last-quarter earnings exceeded expectations.'
Academic
Used in economics, business studies, and astronomy papers.
Everyday
Less common; used when discussing company news, personal finance summaries, or occasionally observing the moon.
Technical
Precise term in financial accounting and astronomy.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The last-quarter figures were published today.
- We need a last-quarter review.
American English
- The last-quarter results are in.
- A last-quarter push is needed to meet goals.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The last quarter of the year is autumn.
- Sales were good in the last quarter.
- The moon is a half-circle in its last quarter.
- Despite a challenging market, the company improved its margins in the last quarter.
- Investors are keenly awaiting the last-quarter financial report.
- The board attributed the annual profit surge to a particularly robust performance in the last quarter, driven by new market penetration.
- A waning gibbous moon transitions into the last quarter, where exactly half of the lunar disc is illuminated.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a year as a cake divided into four pieces. The 'last quarter' is the final piece you eat.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A RESOURCE TO BE MEASURED AND DIVIDED (into quarters).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation as 'последняя четверть' for financial contexts; use 'последний квартал'. For the moon, use 'последняя четверть' (луны).
- Confusion with 'quarter' as a coin (25 cents) or district is unlikely here due to the adjective 'last'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'last quarter' to mean 'previous quarter' (which is more accurately 'the previous quarter' or 'last quarter's').
- Omitting 'the' (e.g., 'In last quarter...' should be 'In the last quarter...').
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'last quarter' LEAST likely be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In a standard calendar or financial year (Jan-Dec), yes. However, if a company's fiscal year starts in April, its 'last quarter' would be Jan-Mar, which is Q1 of the calendar year. Context is key.
Yes. 'Last quarter' typically refers to the final quarter of a defined cycle (e.g., the year). 'Previous quarter' refers to the one immediately before the current one, regardless of its position in the year (e.g., if it's Q2 now, the 'previous quarter' is Q1).
Yes. In astronomy, 'last quarter' (or 'third quarter') is a specific lunar phase occurring roughly three weeks after the new moon, when the left half of the moon (in the Northern Hemisphere) is illuminated.
Almost always. It is a defined period, so 'the last quarter' is standard. Exceptions are rare and idiomatic (e.g., in headlines: 'Last Quarter Profits Soar').