finalist

[ fahyn-l-ist ]

/ ˈfaɪn l ɪst /

noun

a person entitled to participate in the final or decisive contest in a series, as in musical or athletic competition.

Words nearby finalist

final motor neuron, final solution, final-salary, finale, finalism, finalist, finality, finalize, finally, finals, finance

Origin of finalist

First recorded in 1895–1900; final + -ist

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for finalist

For months, I struggled with the decision and after being rejected as a finalist from a fellowship I found myself at a crossroads.
There’s No Better Test for Millennials than the American City|Michael Tubbs|April 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The duo also thanked mentor—and former CVFF finalist—Prabal Gurung for his assistance and support.
CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Honors Emerging Talent|Erin Cunningham|November 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST
We learn that Rachel is a finalist for the part of Fanny Brice in the revival of Funny Girl.
The First ‘Glee’ Without Cory Monteith Was Blissfully Joyous|Kevin Fallon|September 27, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The 2013 fiction judges: Charles Baxter was a finalist for the National Book Award in fiction in 2000 for The Feast of Love.
The National Book Awards Longlist for Fiction||September 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST

René Steinke was a 2005 National Book Award finalist in fiction for her novel Holy Skirts.
The National Book Awards Longlist for Fiction||September 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The finalist or teleological conception is not any more tenable, for Evolution is not simply the realization of a plan.
Bergson and His Philosophy|J. Alexander Gunn
Already the finalist theory of life eludes all precise verification.
Creative Evolution|Henri Bergson
This reason is a logical necessity, but the logical necessity does not prove the teleological or finalist necessity.
Tragic Sense Of Life|Miguel de Unamuno

British Dictionary definitions for finalist

finalist

/ (ˈfaɪnəlɪst) /

noun

a contestant who has reached the last and decisive stage of a sports or other competition

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012