final

American  

[fahyn-l] / ˈfaɪn l /

adjective

1. pertaining to or coming at the end; last in place, order, or time.

   the final meeting of the year.

   Antonyms:

   first, initial

2. ultimate.

   The final goal is world peace.

3. conclusive or decisive.

   a final decision.

   Synonyms:

   unalterable, irreversible, irrevocable, definite

4. constituting the end or purpose.

   a final result.

5. pertaining to or expressing the end or purpose.

   a final clause.

6. Law.

   1. precluding further controversy on the questions passed upon.

      The judicial determination of the Supreme Court is final.

   2. determining all issues presented, so that no further decision upon the merits of the issues is necessary.

      a final judgment or decree.

7. Phonetics. occurring at the end of a word or syllable, as the (t) sound in bit or bite.

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noun

1. that which is last; that which forms an end or termination.

2. Often finals.

   1. the last and decisive game, match, contest, or round in a series, as in sports.

   2. the last, usually comprehensive, examination in a course of study.

3. the last edition of a newspaper published on any day.

4. Music. the tonic note of a church mode.

final British  

/ ˈfaɪnəl /

adjective

1. of or occurring at the end; concluding; ultimate; last

2. having no possibility for further discussion, action, or change; conclusive; decisive

   a final decree of judgment

3. relating to or constituting an end or purpose

   a final clause may be introduced by ``in order to''

4. phonetics at the end of a word Compare medial initial

   ``cat'' has a final ``t''

5. music another word for perfect

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noun

1. a terminal or last thing; end

2. a deciding contest between the winners of previous rounds in a competition

3. music the tonic note of a church mode

final Idioms  

1. see in the final analysis.

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Related Words

See last ¹.

Other Word Forms

• pseudofinal adjective
• pseudofinally adverb
• quasi-final adjective

Etymology

Origin of final

First recorded in 1300–50; 1915–20 final for def. 10; Middle English, from Latin fīnālis, equivalent to fīn(is) “end” + -ālis adjective suffix; -al ¹

Example Sentences

It’s been a big year for you, with the final season of “And Just Like That…” and judging the Booker Prize.

From Los Angeles Times

Like his dozens of novels — the latest a collaboration with Reese Witherspoon — it involves a, wait for it, final twist, though as a writer he’d never create characters so unglamorous.

From Los Angeles Times

Capped 59 times by Wales, skippering them on 42 occasions, he also took them to the brink of the 1994 World Cup finals as coach -- which would have been their first appearance since 1958.

From Barron's

Despite some bumps along the road, 2025 was a solid year for stock and bond funds, as was its final quarter.

From Barron's

Swiss inflation edged up in the final month of 2025, likely alleviating the pressure on the country’s central bank to cut rates below zero.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• closing
• concluding
• eventual
• last-minute
• ultimate