finite

[fahy-nahyt]

adjective

1. having bounds or limits; not infinite; measurable.

   Synonyms: restricted, limited, bounded

2. Mathematics.

   1. (of a set of elements) capable of being completely counted.

   2. not infinite or infinitesimal.

   3. not zero.

3. subject to limitations or conditions, as of space, time, circumstances, or the laws of nature.

   our finite existence on earth.

noun

1. something that is finite.

finite

/ ˈfaɪnaɪt /

adjective

1. bounded in magnitude or spatial or temporal extent

   a finite difference

2. maths logic having a number of elements that is a natural number; able to be counted using the natural numbers less than some natural number Compare denumerable infinite

3. 1. limited or restricted in nature

      human existence is finite

   2. ( as noun )

      the finite

4. denoting any form or occurrence of a verb inflected for grammatical features such as person, number, and tense

finite

1. Relating to a set that cannot be put into a one-to-one correspondence with any proper subset of its own members.

2. Relating to or being a numerical quantity describing the size of such a set.

3. Being a member of the set of real or complex numbers.

4. Being a quantity that is non-zero and not infinite.

Other Word Forms

• finitely adverb
• finiteness noun
• nonfinite adjective
• nonfinitely adverb
• nonfiniteness noun
• superfinite adjective
• superfinitely adverb
• superfiniteness noun
• unfinite adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of finite¹

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin fīnītus, past participle of fīnīre to stop, limit. See fine ¹, -ite ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of finite¹

C15: from Latin fīnītus limited, from fīnīre to limit, end

Example Sentences

In reality, cells perform thousands of simultaneous chemical processes that must share finite resources.

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His cases focus on the gaps between finite means and what seem like infinite ends of a hostile environment.

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Ms. Case’s songs spark with this kind of powerful but finite energy, which reflects the alternately joyful and melancholy arc of life itself.

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In a world where time is finite, the distractions on my phone redirect me from what matters most: quality time with friends and family, effort toward my studies, and the painstaking process of graduate-school applications.

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In other words, let the objects that exist out there in the world be described by a finite number of features corresponding to the dimensions of some conceptual space.

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Related Words

• definite 
• fixed 
• limited 
• restricted