denouement

or dé·noue·ment

[ dey-noo-mahn ]

noun

1. the final resolution of the intricacies of a plot, as of a drama or novel.
2. the place in the plot at which this occurs.
3. the outcome or resolution of a doubtful series of occurrences.

   Synonyms: upshot, end, conclusion, solution

denouement

/ deɪˈnuːmɒn; denumɑ̃ /

noun

1. 1. the final clarification or resolution of a plot in a play or other work
   2. the point at which this occurs
2. final outcome; solution

dénouement

1. The solution or outcome of the plot of a play or novel : “In the dénouement of many tragedies , the main character dies.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of denouement¹

First recorded in 1745–55; from French: literally, “an untying,” equivalent to dénouer “to untie,” Old French desnoer ( des- + noer “to knot,” from Latin nōdāre, derivative of nōdus “knot”) + -ment; de-, -ment

Word History and Origins

Origin of denouement¹

C18: from French, literally: an untying, from dénouer to untie, from Old French desnoer, from des- de- + noer to tie, knot, from Latin nōdāre, from nōdus a knot; see node

Example Sentences

“Ezra” could easily tip into melodrama, but Goldwyn sidesteps that with a rather facile ending, seemingly skipping a story beat in the denouement.

From Los Angeles Times

Long before the film reaches its startling, sneakily moving denouement, Arnold extends to Bailey the faith that parents and politicians seeking simply to control children’s behavior so sorely lack.

From Los Angeles Times

She is a poignant picture of frayed dignity, her aristocratic self-possession increasingly brittle as the story progresses toward it sad denouement.

From New York Times

Elena, however, demanded a separate denouement — one where she lived on as a puppet leader boxed in by Western interests who prop up her rule and pull the strings.

From Salon

His denouement arrives when he accidentally tells his audience over a hot mic that they’re a bunch of witless, contemptible rubes; they turn on him and his popularity evaporates.

From Salon

Related Words

• climax
• culmination
• finale