What does 'penultimate' indicate?

The term 'penultimate' specifically refers to something that is next to the last in a sequence or series. For example, if you have a list of seven items, the sixth item is the penultimate one. This term is often used in various contexts, such as literature, to describe chapters in a book or in competitions to indicate a second to last position. The clarity in its definition emphasizes that it does not refer to the very last item but rather the one immediately preceding it. Understanding this term can be particularly useful for analyzing progressions or rankings where the position of items holds significance.