finite

[ fahy-nahyt ]

/ ˈfaɪ naɪt /

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adjective

having bounds or limits; not infinite; measurable.

Mathematics.

(of a set of elements) capable of being completely counted.
not infinite or infinitesimal.
not zero.

subject to limitations or conditions, as of space, time, circumstances, or the laws of nature: our finite existence on earth.

noun

something that is finite.

OTHER WORDS FOR finite

1 bounded, limited, circumscribed, restricted.

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QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of finite

1375–1425; late Middle English <Latin fīnītus, past participle of fīnīre to stop, limit. See fine¹, -ite²

OTHER WORDS FROM finite

fi·nite·ly, adverbfi·nite·ness, nounnon·fi·nite, adjective, nounnon·fi·nite·ly, adverb

non·fi·nite·ness, nounsu·per·fi·nite, adjectivesu·per·fi·nite·ly, adverbsu·per·fi·nite·ness, nounun·fi·nite, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use finite in a sentence

Denmark has become the largest oil producer so far to set a finite deadline for ending oil and gas extraction, in an effort to meet some of the world’s most ambitious climate targets.
The EU’s biggest oil producer will end extraction by 2050—and exploration is canceled as of now|kdunn6|December 4, 2020|Fortune
I say this because the scenario I have described assumes that the size of the universe remains finite at the Janus point.
Time Flows Toward Order - Issue 93: Forerunners|Julian Barbour|December 2, 2020|Nautilus
It still behooves clients to secure the supply that’s finite in advance.
‘More of an acceptable concept’: Publishers test more frequent ad price changes|Max Willens|October 16, 2020|Digiday
If you image the night sky with your smartphone camera, the stars also have a finite size of pixels in your image, even though they are point sources for both you and your smartphone.
Readers ask about exoplanets, spider silk and water beetles|Science News Staff|October 4, 2020|Science News

They can be finite-dimensional or infinite-dimensional, have “boundary” or not have boundary, and be defined over a variety of number systems, such as the real, complex or p-adic numbers.
Building the Mathematical Library of the Future|Kevin Hartnett|October 1, 2020|Quanta Magazine
On the other hand, it is claimed on the basis of the finiteness of human action that both reward and punishment should be finite.
A History of Mediaeval Jewish Philosophy|Isaac Husik
Similarly God's unity in Maimonides is among other things based upon the finiteness of the world and its unity.
A History of Mediaeval Jewish Philosophy|Isaac Husik
This denial enlarges the human intellect by removing its evidence from sense to Soul, and from finiteness into infinity.
Unity of Good|Mary Baker Eddy
This necessary finiteness of literature may be illustrated in another way.
The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 14, No. 83, September, 1864|Various
The picture contains transitoriness, finiteness, yet also a vista of new formation, new land.
Mother Earth, Vol. 1 No. 3, May 1906|Various

British Dictionary definitions for finite

finite

/ (ˈfaɪnaɪt) /

adjective

bounded in magnitude or spatial or temporal extenta finite difference

maths logic having a number of elements that is a natural number; able to be counted using the natural numbers less than some natural numberCompare denumerable, infinite (def. 4)

limited or restricted in naturehuman existence is finite
(as noun)the finite

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

Derived forms of finite

finitely, adverbfiniteness, noun

Word Origin for finite

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

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

Scientific definitions for finite

finite

[ fī′nīt′ ]

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

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

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

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

finite

OTHER WORDS FOR finite

Origin of finite

OTHER WORDS FROM finite

Words related to finite

How to use finite in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for finite

Derived forms of finite

Word Origin for finite

Scientific definitions for finite