semifinal

American  

[sem-ee-fahyn-l, sem-ahy-] / ˌsɛm iˈfaɪn l, ˌsɛm aɪ- /

adjective

1. of or relating to the round preceding the final one in a tournament from which losers are eliminated.

2. (in boxing) of or relating to the second most important bout on a card, usually immediately preceding the main bout.

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noun

• semifinals
  plural

1. a semifinal contest or round.

2. (in boxing) the second most important bout on a card.

semifinal British  

/ ˌsɛmɪˈfaɪnəl /

noun

1. 1. the round before the final in a competition

   2. ( as modifier )

      the semifinal draw

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• semifinals
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of semifinal

First recorded in 1880–85; semi- + final

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Explanation

In sports, a semifinal is the next-to the last game (or series of games) in a big tournament. In a semifinal, four teams or players compete against each other for a spot in the final round. Professional sports like hockey, soccer, and basketball — as well as competitive activities including poker and debate — have a series of elimination rounds before a winner is declared. The very last of those playoff games is the semifinal, a word that was coined in the 1860s from the Latin semi, "half," and final, whose Latin root means "end." The round before the semifinal, in which eight teams play, is called a quarterfinal.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

semifinal semifinals

Open after defeating fellow American Frances Tiafoe in a five-set semifinal.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 26, 2026

Yastremska - who in 2024 reached the semifinal stage of the Australian Open - is currently 113th in the women's world singles rankings.

From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026

A semifinal loss at Wimbledon to eventual champ Sinner.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026

Later that same year, Amabile would participate in Season 5 of “Bachelor in Paradise” and compete in Season 27 of “Dancing With the Stars,” making it to the semifinal round.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026

After the round of eight came the semifinal rounds, and eventually the finals, where the last two fencers would fight for first and second place in the entire tournament.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad

Behind a standout effort from quarterback Kate Meier, JSerra defeats Huntington Beach 34-6 in the CIF Southern Section flag football semifinals.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2026

He had pressed beyond the semifinals, finished a match after 3:30 a.m., and knocked off tournament favorite Carlos Alcaraz in the process.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 2026

Frances Tiafoe Friday night in the semifinals of the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026

Shelton will face fellow U.S. player Frances Tiafoe in Friday’s semifinals.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

At World Championships, losing in the semifinals to either Ukraine or Russia, left to fence off for bronze.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad

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