last mile

American  

noun

1. the distance walked by a condemned person from their cell to the place of execution.

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last mile Cultural  

1. The phrase used to describe one of the problems in attaining higher-speed, higher-capacity information flow to every household. It refers to the copper telephone wire that still carries information to households. The limited capacity of the wire slows data transmission even though it is possible to send data over high-capacity systems from anywhere in the world to within the “the last mile” (give or take) before the house. The use of cable technology, fiber optic technology, and wireless satellite technology are several of the solutions used to address this problem.

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Example Sentences

The last mile has remained tricky though, and inflation is still above the Fed’s 2% year-over-year target.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 13, 2026

But the last mile of inflation has proved difficult.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 6, 2025

If this drift continues, the Fed may find that the last mile of disinflation is not just difficult, but unreachable.

From Barron's • Nov. 7, 2025

“The last mile of his development is helping lead a major league staff,” Friedman said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 16, 2025

As far as I could make out the last mile or so of the new road where it started to level out would be able to be shelled steadily by the Aus- trians.

From "A Farewell To Arms" by Ernest Hemingway