last mile

noun

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

last mile

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.

Example Sentences

His company quickly realised why traditional e-commerce wasn’t able to penetrate the very last mile.

From BBC

The last mile is where you gain the most elevation, so make sure you’re hydrated and sated with a power snack for that final push.

From Los Angeles Times

But the real challenge is the last mile.

From Los Angeles Times

She remembers how ill he became as she carried him the last miles to the border.

From Seattle Times

The “last mile” facilities include Amazon’s delivery stations and sortation centers, and are the last leg in a package’s journey through Amazon’s vast distribution network before reaching a customer’s doorstep.

From Seattle Times