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

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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Etymology

Origin of semifinal

First recorded in 1880–85; semi- + final

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

In a Champions League semifinal, in front of its own fans, Arsenal could hardly keep the ball.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

On a scale of 1 to 10, this surprise Eastern Conference semifinal is a 36.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026

When the first batch of World Cup tickets went on sale in October, the U.S. opener was the third-highest-price match in the tournament, behind only the final and one semifinal.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026

The semifinals also serve as individual finals, with the national champions being determined in the all-around and on all four events after the two semifinal sessions on Thursday.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

When he said that, he had been watching the video of the 1987 Plano-Permian state semifinal game inside his living room.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger