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Glite Dictionary
📦 Final delivery stage ⚰️ Final walk to execution
last mile

last mile

1 4.1
The final part of bringing goods from a warehouse to the customer
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : última milla
  • At what point could the Fed take a more patient or opportunistic approach to the last mile of the inflation fight?

They're basically giving Uber drivers trucks and replacing the need for FedEx and UPS in last mile delivery.

Examples

  • Everyone understands that the trajectory is still lower, but the last mile is pretty slow going.

  • The company is focusing on improving its last mile delivery efficiency to better serve customers.

  • From the firm's perspective, the last mile is also where the costs get higher.

    Blog text (7)

  • Getting the last mile is another story altogether.

    Blog text (7)

  • In fact, the US Postal Service is the "last mile" delivery and pickup mechanism for both UPS and FedEx.

    Blog text (10)

  • There's shipping, there's taxes and duties, and then there's last mile distribution and retail costs to actually get these things out to consumers.

  • One of the challenges in e-commerce has always been the last mile—that last bit of transportation required to get those new shoes or electronic gadgets to the customer.

    Blog text (7)

  • A reliable last mile solution is crucial for ensuring that packages arrive on time at the customer's doorstep.

  • Many businesses struggle with the last mile logistics, which can significantly affect customer satisfaction.

Synonyms

end of the line
vslast mile
47 4.1

The point when something stops or finishes

is about the final handing over of goods or services to customers
tail end
vslast mile
13 3.5

The last part of something, especially a period or event

refers specifically to the closing delivery stage, not just a late part
endpoint
vslast mile
11 5.4

A place or time when something ends

is the specific final delivery stage reaching the customer
end point
vslast mile
1 3.9

The place or moment when something finishes

is focused on the closing delivery step to the end user

Surface Forms

last mile singular
last miles plural

Morphology

last + mile

The meaning 'the final stage of delivery' is directly derivable from combining 'last' (final) with 'mile' (a unit/segment of distance), so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer it refers to the final segment of a journey or delivery. Although 'mile' is often used metaphorically to mean 'stage' rather than a literal distance, this compositional, transparent metaphor is readily understandable and cross-linguistically common.

Etymology

Last mile The phrase last mile was taken by delivery companies to describe the final short trip from a depot to a customer's door, the last mile before a package reaches you. Because this last trip is often the hardest and most costly part, last mile now means 'the final stage' of delivering goods, services, or data to the end user.