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

Shelton and Tiafoe are also the first Black American men to meet in a major semifinal in tennis’s Open Era.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026

Although the semifinal against France and Spain holds a special place in his heart, Barton recalls other World Cup moments that will likely stay with him forever.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026

The semifinal match did not start out well.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad

Sierra Canyon was 11-0 in 2023 when it lost to Mater Dei 42-14 in the semifinals.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 1, 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

That’s how she crushed Jessica Pegula in straight sets in the semifinals.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026

Team USA is set to play Spain at the semifinals on Saturday.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026

Since the team had gone to the semifinals of the state playoffs before losing to the eventual champion, Plano, it had been considered not a great year but at least a pretty good one.

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

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